All citizens in Israel, Muslim, Christian and Jew, have the right to protest, complain and fight for their civil rights. For some reason you seem to believe that Akka, or Acre in English, is still a part of mandate Palestinian but it has been an Israeli city since the Independence War of 1948. It is not situated in the Palestinian terrorities on the West Bank or Gaza and your comments vis-a-vis "Jewish settlers" are beyond ridiculous. In Israel Jews and Muslims can live wherever they like and the Jews living in Acre are not settlers! We are a democracy, unlike the countries surrounding us. The city's town council has Muslim and Jewish representatives and to present the city as being "Palestinian" is simply ignorant. They are all Israeli citizens and enjoy the rights that our country offers. These include the right to protest change which may alter their way of life. The Arab citizens in Acre enjoy the same benefits and rights as the Jewish citizens in Acre but they both face changes and development in an ancient city. Does anyone imagine that Acre should remain a city without sewage facilities or without basic services?
Acre is a multi-racial city of Israeli Muslims and Israeli Jews who live together in harmony. Yes, there is development but having visited that city many times, I know that building on historic sites is strictly regulated. The Crusader Castle etc. is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and this preservation is for the benefit of all the citizens of Acre. The city now boasts beautiful hotels owned by Israeli Muslims who benefit from the flow of visits to the World Heritage Site.
I have no problem with the film presenting the problems faced by the citizens of an ancient city which HAS to progress in order to survive. I'm sure that the Israeli Muslim residents of the city have justified arguments and have the right to fight to protect change which affects their way of life. This happens all over Israel and Jews as well as Muslims have to face up to the authorities' plans for change. It is even happening in my local area which is mostly Jewish. We are fighting building plans, have hired legal aid etc. and hope to stop the planned change. This is called democracy and exists in all democratic countries and to present the situation as being "the Jews destroying the Palestinian way of life" in the "Palestinian city of Akka" is pure BDS BS.
It is important that documentaries present problems faced by communities and I have no doubt that the Israeli Arabs resident in the Israeli city of Acre have real problems with development. It is important that documentary filmmakers examine and present the rights of all citizens in every country. Readers may not know that almost 22% of Israel's population is non-Jewish, i.e. Muslims, Druze, Circassian, Christian etc. and considering the tensions and difficulties, problems are resolved in a relatively civil way. They enjoy equal rights in our society including the RIGHT to protest, unlike the situation in the neighbouring Arab countries.
