{"id":20385,"date":"2024-09-12T20:14:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T17:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/?p=20385"},"modified":"2024-09-12T20:14:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T17:14:10","slug":"the-bibi-files-the-documentary-banned-in-israel-premieres-in-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.liberalglobe.com\/?p=20385","title":{"rendered":"‘The Bibi Files’: The documentary banned in Israel premieres in Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Bibi Files, the documentary containing material and “unseen” footage of the criminal investigation conducted before the trials of the Israeli Prime Minister, interviews with him, premiered Monday night (9\/9) at the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF). Netanyahu, his wife Sara and his son Yair, dating from 2016 to 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The documentary, by filmmakers Alexis Bloom and Alex Gibney, features never-before-seen footage of Israeli police questioning Benjamin Netanyahu, his family and inner circle over corruption allegations. The documentary was screened as a work-in-progress at the Toronto Film Festival after a Jerusalem court rejected an application by Netanyahu to block the screening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea for the film began with a source who leaked the material to Gibney and suggested making a film out of it. Gibeny took over the filming and narrated the footage through a post-screening question-and-answer series, KAN reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those interviewed for the documentary were state witness Nir Hefetz, former Shin Bet (Israeli Security Service) chief Ami Ayalon and Avi Alkalay, a former Walla editor who was a witness in the 4000 case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the documentary, Netanyahu is seen claiming that he does not remember the events presented to him. In another segment, Sarah is seen verbally attacking police investigators, accusing them with insults of “trying to overthrow the prime minister”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of two riveting hours, “The Bibi Files” reveals leaked videos of police interrogating Netanyahu and his family, friends and staff, as well as a former Israeli finance minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An array of experts, including former top Israeli officials, weaves scenes of human greed and moral compromise into an understandable chronicle. The scene in question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Netanyahu grabs a glass of water from the table. He looks relaxed, reclining slightly, wearing a suit and tie. A large map of the Middle East on the wall behind him reinforces the power and prestige of his position as Prime Minister of Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Did you ask for it?” asks a police investigator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Netanyahu drinks the water. “For what?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prime Minister is so uncaring that he has to be constantly reminded of the talking point during a police investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A bag,” the policeman answers patiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another sip. “Maybe. I don’t remember.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What if we told you that you did?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Well, I asked, so what?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The object of Netanyahu’s scorn is a \u2026 bag the prime minister reportedly requested to hide a box of Cohiba cigars, worth about $1,100, that he received from an Israeli billionaire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is one of several cartons of cigars \u2013 codenamed \u201cgreen leaves\u201d by Netanyahu\u2019s staff \u2013 and bottles of champagne \u2013 called \u201cros\u00e9\u201d \u2013 allegedly received by the prime minister and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, from wealthy Israelis their “friends”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“How has the steady drip of expensive cigars, champagne and diamond-encrusted bracelets contributed to the current state of the Middle East? The luxury items, code-named and hidden in bags, have something to do with the people of Gaza, who are dying, displaced and Desperate after almost a year of Israeli bombardment, can they relate to the anguish of Israeli families whose loved ones are still missing during the October 7 attack and taken to Gaza?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“‘The Bibi Files’ connects the dots, offering pieces of the puzzle, examining and fitting them into the political puzzle of the Middle East. The result is an almost Shakespearean tale of one man’s corruption and how it can infect a nation’s body politic at war, once again, against a people without a country,” it concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thousands of hours of leaked videos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The police interrogations that form the building blocks of “The Bibi Files” narrative were recorded between 2016 and 2018 and have never been released in Israel due to privacy laws.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The video was leaked to Gibney in early 2023, before the October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. When the Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker received the tapes, Israel was witnessing mass protests against the Netanyahu government’s push for reforms to give the government more control over the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was just at the time when Netanyahu was trying to change the role of the judiciary in Israel. This, for me, made me an immediate connection in terms of his attempt to escape the consequences of the prosecution against him. So it was already connected to something bigger than just recording the interrogation for the trial,\u201d Gibney, who co-produced the documentary, said in an interview a few days before the film festival screening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alex Gibney on why the film is prevented from official release in Israel because of unique privacy laws about testimony, but rest of world isn't under same restrictions. #TheBibiFiles<\/a> #tiff24<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GTyIUSleX1<\/a><\/p>— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) September 10, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>