IN THE MEDIA

Munich film massacres history to preach message

Jan 30, 2006 | Colin Rubenstein

By Colin Rubenstein

The Daily Telegraph – January 30, 2006

Steven Spielberg’s “Munich” claims to be historical fiction. Unfortunately, it is much more fictional than historical, promotes a morally dubious philosophy and is divorced from the realities of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

Its factual problems can in part be traced to its script’s source, a book entitled Vengeance, entirely based on interviews with a single discredited source who lied about serving in the Mossad.

According to retired Mossad operatives, the film is both highly inaccurate about what actually happened following the Munich massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in 1972, and is utterly implausible in portraying how the Israeli reprisal agents operated.

However, Munich purports to be more than simply a spy thriller – it is a film with a “message” that all forms of violence are morally equivalent. Spielberg and scriptwriter Tony Kushner [who is publicly on record calling the creation of Israel a “historical, moral and political calamity”] want their audience to conclude that counter-terrorists who kill armed enemies who have murdered defenceless civilians, are really not much different from the terrorists themselves; that violent action against terrorism just contributes to a ‘cycle of violence’ that leaves everyone worse off.

 And Spielberg’s message is not focused solely upon Israel. The final scene is a deliberate shot of Manhattan in which the World Trade Center looms large, making a very unsubtle link to September 11.

The film’s major personal drama concerns squad commander Avner (Eric Bana), a sensitive soul who experiences growing disquiet as his targets, portrayed as poets and caring family men, are eliminated. In the end, he appears to reject the whole enterprise and refuses to return to Israel.

Yet Mossad experts insist that the Israeli reprisals after Munich were highly effective in deterring similar attacks, and that no one involved has ever regretted them.

In a complete anachronism, Avner asks whether the Munich terrorists could not have been arrested, but every knowledgeable Israeli would have known that Palestinian terrorists arrested in the early ’70s were usually soon released in response to the next hijacking. This actually happened to the Munich terrorists captured by Germany.

Terrorism was almost cost-free for Palestinian organisations until the Israeli killing of key terror leaders changed the equation.

Moreover, Israel’s counter-terror strategy of killing combatants who cannot be arrested has been highly effective, and not counter-productive, as the film implies. In recent years, by aggressively attacking leading Palestinian terrorists and through its defensive barrier along the West Bank, the Israelis have cut attacks dramatically, saving hundreds of innocent lives on both sides.

The film’s message is both historical nonsense and morally dangerous. There is a world of difference, both ethically and legally, between intentionally murdering the innocent to promote a political cause, and carefully targeted attacks on armed terrorists.

To ignore this distinction, even in the service of a naive “all violence is wrong” premise that may feel “moral”, is to destroy the basis of the international laws of war which are a vital foundation of our civilisation and security.

Spielberg’s film is Hollywood fiction, far removed from both truth and morality, and should be viewed as such.

Dr. Colin Rubenstein is Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


Canberratimes Logo

Letter: Palestinian extremist voices were opposed because of their racism

Mar 24, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR, In the media
Israel's Supreme Court in session, January 5, 2023, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Credit: Eddie Gerald/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s proposed judicial reforms – Jamie Hyams on J-Air radio

Mar 22, 2023 | Featured, In the media
Image: Shutterstock

Why we need the IHRA definition of antisemitism

Mar 17, 2023 | Featured, In the media
Image: Shutterstock

Letter: Religious bigotry, and racism, have no legitimacy in public discourse

Mar 17, 2023 | In the media
Ehud Yaari

Ehud Ya’ari on ABC Radio National: Israel’s judicial reforms controversy, and increasing West Bank violence

Mar 13, 2023 | Featured, Fresh AIR, In the media
Image: Shutterstock

Letter: Calling out racism

Mar 10, 2023 | In the media

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

Canberratimes Logo

Letter: Palestinian extremist voices were opposed because of their racism

Israel's Supreme Court in session, January 5, 2023, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Credit: Eddie Gerald/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s proposed judicial reforms – Jamie Hyams on J-Air radio

L-R: Dr Michael Trainor, Sr Giovanni Farquer, Jeremy Jones

AIJAC congratulates Australian Catholics on “Powerful affirmation of friendship”

Shutterstock 2026681823

AIJAC welcomes proposed Federal ban on Nazi symbols and salutes

Image: Shutterstock

AIJAC welcomes additional Iran sanctions

Canberratimes Logo

Letter: Palestinian extremist voices were opposed because of their racism

Israel's Supreme Court in session, January 5, 2023, in Jerusalem, Israel. (Credit: Eddie Gerald/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s proposed judicial reforms – Jamie Hyams on J-Air radio

L-R: Dr Michael Trainor, Sr Giovanni Farquer, Jeremy Jones

AIJAC congratulates Australian Catholics on “Powerful affirmation of friendship”

Shutterstock 2026681823

AIJAC welcomes proposed Federal ban on Nazi symbols and salutes

Image: Shutterstock

AIJAC welcomes additional Iran sanctions

SORT BY TOPICS