'Artwashing': Warner Bros faces backlash over biopic of Israel air force founder
Warner Bros has announced plans for a film about Adolph "Al" Schwimmer, an American World War II veteran and the founder of Israel Aerospace Industries, with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin set to write the script and potentially direct it, according to Deadline.
The announcement has ignited scathing backlash on social media, where critics have accused the project about the "father of the Israeli air force" of perpetuating a biased narrative about Israel’s founding and glorifying Schwimmer’s controversial legacy as “heroic”.
According to media reports, the film will be based, in part, on the article "America's greatest gift to Israel" by David Kushner, published by Business Insider.
In 1948, in violation of an international arms embargo, Schwimmer smuggled military planes and over 50,000 weapons via Czechoslovakia to the Haganah, one of the three underground Zionist militias at the time. The operation aided militias involved in the 1948 Nakba, or the Catastrophe, in which 750,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed to make way for the creation of Israel.
The smuggled planes are considered pivotal in Israel's creation, with Boaz Dvir, professor and author of Saving Israel remarking: "Without Al's operation, Israel would have never survived its first war."
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'On-the-nose attempt at artwashing'
Social media users criticised the decision to release a film about Schwimmer, arguing it downplays the violent foundations of Israel.
One social media user wrote that Schwimmer helped the Haganah secure aerial support and after the "successful colonization of Palestine," the militia was absorbed into what is now the Israel army, concluding that Israel’s history is "undeniably sinister".
The main detail on this dudes Wikipedia is that he worked for the Haganah to violate an arms embargo on Israel to deliver 30 stolen B-17 bombers to utilize in an ethnic cleansing operation which Palestinians refer to today as the Nakba. https://t.co/zz2zueSxxM
— Scott (@disorderlyswine) November 20, 2024
In 1950, Al Schwimmer was convicted for violating the US Neutrality Act through his plane smuggling operation, fined, and stripped of his veteran benefits, though he was never imprisoned. He received a pardon from US President Bill Clinton in 2001.
Others social media users expressed concerns that the film could glorify Schwimmer's illegal actions, with one user stating: “let’s celebrate the founder of a genocidaire air force. The hasbara machine is on overdrive.”
Warner Bros' decision to produce a film about Schwimmer also drew accusations of using entertainment to sanitise or gloss over controversial history.
One user argued: “This is such an on-the-nose attempt at artwashing the America-backed genocide of Palestine that I can’t even laugh.”
not to state the obvious but this is such an on the nose attempt at artwashing the America-backed genocide of palestine that Israel is carrying out that I can't even laugh. movie studios officially saying they think audiences are sheep who'll accept genocidal figures https://t.co/CFnlxkdagS
— an🍉 (@moonchildbichen) November 20, 2024
Criticism has been further fuelled by the announcement’s timing, with many questioning the decision to tell Schwimmer’s story amidst Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
“Cannot think of a more tone-deaf time to be telling this story. I feel utterly insane,” one user wrote.
Another called the project “the most evil movie of all time incoming”.
Cannot think of a more tone-deaf time to be telling this story. I feel utterly insane. https://t.co/tjdxHG4jwo pic.twitter.com/xEHOewQunH
— Michael. (@yosoymichael) November 19, 2024
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 44,000 Palestinians, and wounded another 103,898, according to the health ministry in the enclave. The real death toll is likely much higher.
Israel is also facing allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide before international courts.
American playwright, director and screenwriter Sorkin, famous for creating the shows like The Newsroom (2012-2014) and the West Wing (1999-2006), has also been a focus of criticism.
In 2023, Sorkin signed an open letter from the "No Hostages Left Behind" campaign, along with 200 other Hollywood celebrities and media executives, expressing strong support for Israel amid its war on Gaza.
So, thieves being canonized for robbing land and materiel, but because they're white Jews it's heroic pic.twitter.com/MNRq3V3vhV
— professor mir 🇵🇸 #FreePalestine (@ShabanaMir1) November 19, 2024
One social media user mocked the writer saying: “Aaron Sorkin x the Israeli military. These Hollywood execs truly do have their fingers on the pulse of the nation.”
A disillusioned fan remarked: “I’ve tried my hardest, but it’s becoming impossible to remain an Aaron Sorkin defender.”
Sorkin also previously severed ties with his agency, Creative Artists Agency, after his agent, Maha Dakhil, shared pro-Palestinian posts, including one using the word “genocide” to describe the situation in Gaza.
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