By Iqbal Jassat
“I’ve never seen the depth of moral corruption as I’ve seen in this man” are the words of Alex Gibney, Oscar winner-producer of an explosive documentary called “The Bibi Files”.
The film which premiered in Toronto, despite desperate attempts by the settler colonial regime’s war criminal Mileikowsky-Netanyahu to block it, contains leaked footage of his interrogation by police.
Gibney explained that they brought “The Bibi Files” to Toronto, as a work-in-progress, because it urgently needed to be seen while the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
But also because they are seeking distribution partners at the festival’s market, hoping to get the film released as quickly as possible for the world to see.
According to a review by Deadline, the film directed by Alexis Bloom contains what they describe as “never-before-seen video of Netanyahu being interrogated by Israeli police on corruption allegations – an investigation that led to Netanyahu’s indictment in 2019”.
It adds that in the footage leaked to Gibney late last year, Netanyahu is seen locking horns with interrogators, denying he improperly accepted expensive gifts from wealthy supporters, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
“Video of police questioning of Milchan, Adelson, as well as Netanyahu’s wife Sara and eldest son Yair also was leaked to Gibney and is featured prominently in the documentary.”
From other reviews we learn that the Bibi Files contextualizes the interrogation videos with a portrait of Netanyahu, whose career is built on stoking fear and promising security, and whose personal life is largely in service of his wife Sara’s turbulent moods and expensive lifestyle.
“Sara Netanyahu’s erratic testimonies and outbursts during testimony are also included in the footage.”
What we also glean from various reviews of the film, confirms Netanyahu’s devious efforts to duck and dive to evade jail-time, even risking a fallout with allies.
It explains why he has adamantly defied international legal injunctions issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as well as UN Security Council resolutions.
It is necessary to recap that South Africa filed its case at the ICJ on 29 December 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
And that the Netanyahu regime had breached the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in its military assault.
Now approaching a year since Israel launched its barbaric war, the world has witnessed a daily routine of ritual slaughter by its occupation army.
UN confirms that the war on Gaza has destroyed large parts of the Strip, killed thousands of civilians and led to massive displacements of the population.
The lack of access to international humanitarian aid is also causing starvation in Gaza, where famine and disease has taken root.
Against this background the ICJ ordered Israel on 24 May 2024 to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Thus far, Netanyahu and his criminal gang of warlords have not complied to the ruling. Their defiance is evident in the relentless ongoing slaughter of innocent Palestinians.
As for public protests within the settler colonial regime, reports point out that an overwhelming majority of protesters who are demanding an end of Israel’s war in Gaza in order to free “hostages”, are also insisting on Netanyahu to resign.
It has become clear that Netanyahu’s attempts to delay his own trial are key to understanding recent events: his tacit approval of expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, his controversial handling of hostage negotiations, and military decisions that created a situation the UN Secretary-General called “a moral stain on us all.”
As to the question many are asking why the war goes on and on, Gibney in addressing the Toronto audience said, “And I think one of the reasons for taking this film on is to explain a lot of the events that we now see through the corruption, the moral corruption, of this one individual.”
“People are dying every day, and we wanted to make a statement with this film,” added Gibney.
From France24’s review, the following observation spotlights the immense impact the Bibi Files is likely to have on Netanyahu’s undignified and disastrous end:
“How has a steady drip of expensive cigars, champagne and diamond-encrusted bracelets contributed to the current state of the Middle East?
“Do the luxury objects, code-named and hidden in bags, have any bearing on Gazans, dying, displaced and desperate after nearly a year of Israeli bombardments?”
Issued by:
Iqbal Jassat
Executive Member
Media Review Network
Johannesburg
South Africa
+2783 594 3749
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