The Holocaust Survivors’ Foundation USA condemns director Jonathan Glazer for divisive Oscars speech
The Holocaust Survivors’ Foundation USA has strongly criticized director Jonathan Glazer for his Oscars speech, labeling it as “morally indefensible” and “disgraceful”.
In an open letter posted on the foundation’s website, the group’s 94-year-old president, David Schaecter, expressed his anguish at Glazer’s comments. He accused Glazer of inaccurately and immorally equating Hamas’s brutality against innocent Israelis with Israel’s defensive actions.
Shchaecter argued, “The ‘occupation’ you speak of has nothing to do with the Holocaust. It’s disgraceful for you to presume to speak for the six million Jews, including one and a half million children, who were murdered solely because of their Jewish identity.”
The foundation’s condemnation comes following Glazer’s acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best International Film, which he won for his riveting Holocaust movie, The Zone of Interest. During the ceremony, the British director passionately expressed his concerns about the dehumanization of innocent people.
Glazer’s speech, although praised by some, has also received backlash. The Anti-Defamation League expressed outrage, stating on Twitter, “Glazer’s comments at the #Oscars are both factually incorrect & morally reprehensible. They minimize the Shoah & excuse terrorism of the most heinous kind.”
The Zone of Interest: A Powerful Holocaust Drama
Glazer’s award-winning film, The Zone of Interest, explores the dynamics of an Auschwitz commandant and his wife attempting to build a life near the concentration camp. The movie delves into the consequences of dehumanization and serves as a poignant reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Critics and Veterans’ Support
While Glazer faced condemnation from certain groups, there were also those who supported his remarks. Breaking the Silence, an organization of Israeli military veterans, issued a statement applauding Glazer’s stance against the manipulation of Judaism and the Holocaust to justify political ideologies.
