By: Dim Amor

Lebanese authorities announced this week a ban on screening Disney's live-action version of "Snow White" in movie theaters throughout the country. The decision was made following the participation of Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays the role of the Evil Queen in the film.

According to official sources, Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar made the decision after receiving a request from the local cinema and media regulatory body. The official reasoning is based on the fact that Gadot's name appears on the country's official boycott list of Israel, due to her military service in the IDF and her public support for the State of Israel.

This step is not unusual in Lebanese policy. In the past, screenings of other films starring Gadot, including "Wonder Woman" and "Death on the Nile," were banned for exactly the same reasons.

Gal Gadot, known for her uncompromising support for Israel, has been especially prominent in her positions since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023. In a speech delivered during the Anti-Defamation League summit in 2024, Gadot strongly criticized voices supporting Hamas around the world. "Celebrating the massacre of Jews is something that cannot be ignored", the actress said in her emotional speech.

The prevailing opinion in the country is that screening films starring actors who support Israel is not compatible with the current national situation and the daily Israeli violations, as they are perceived in Lebanese society.

Recently, Lebanese authorities made a similar decision to ban the screening of Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World", which features Israeli actress Shira Haas. In this case too, the official reason was identical – a cultural boycott of Israeli creators.

These repeated decisions reflect Lebanon's commitment to a clear policy of boycotting works in which actors with Israeli citizenship participate.

It should be noted that the "Snow White" film was controversial even before the Lebanese boycott was announced. Since the initial announcement of its production, the film became an arena for political and cultural confrontations.

The contrast between Zegler and Gadot became a symbol of the political controversy surrounding the film. Zegler, known for her support of Palestinians since 2021, stands in sharp contrast to Gadot, who does not hide her support for Israel. Gadot, who previously served in the IDF, delivered a passionate speech in support of Israel in 2024, which sparked widespread indignation among audiences in the Arab and international world, especially in light of the ongoing escalation in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

With the release of the official trailer for "Snow White" last year, calls for boycotting the film began to emerge, especially in Arab countries. Under mounting pressure, Disney was forced to reduce the scale of the premiere event in Los Angeles held on March 15, in an attempt to soften public criticism. However, it seems that this move failed to prevent the wave of negative criticism that flooded the film.

Lebanon's decision to ban the screening of the film thus joins a chain of challenges that faced the production of "Snow White", reflecting the political and cultural complexity that accompanies Hollywood productions during the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

While Disney struggles to deal with the many controversies associated with the film, Lebanon's cultural boycott policy against Israel continues to affect the global entertainment industry, leaving Lebanese cinema viewers without the ability to watch the new version of one of the world's most beloved fairy tales.

The ban on screening "Snow White" demonstrates how political conflicts affect the field of culture and entertainment, and how geopolitical tension seeps into every aspect of artistic creation and cultural consumption in the Middle East. The film, intended to be a family entertainment experience, has involuntarily become a point of contention in the ongoing regional conflict, and an echo of the political and military tensions in the region.

As the cultural boycott of Israel continues to expand and affect Israeli creators and artists worldwide, it remains to be seen how this policy will impact the future of international collaborations in the film industry, and whether it will influence the considerations of major film studios in selecting actors in the future.

Israelis are filled with pride for Gal Gadot, and there is no doubt that Lebanon's regressive decision will not pose an obstacle to the continued creativity of Gal Gadot, who is a source of both national and international pride.

Disney has refrained from giving an official response, while Gal Gadot herself has not reacted at all to the Lebanese decision – the loss is Lebanon's alone (perhaps it would have been better for them to admire the acclaimed "masterpieces" such as the "Katyusha" rocket from Hezbollah's fine workshop, or alternatively enjoy the spectacular artistic performance of "Hamas" in its glorious downfall).

Photo: Disney