More than 50 Hollywood executives have thrown their support behind streaming service Netflix, which is facing a campaign by the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions movement to drop popular Israeli television series "Fauda" from its platform.
In a letter sent to Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos on Tuesday, the executives from record labels and Hollywood talent agencies called the move by the BDS movement a "blatant attempt at artistic censorship."
"Fauda" is an Israeli-made television thriller set in the West Bank about an Israeli undercover agent who comes out of retirement to hunt for a Palestinian terrorist.
The show, which features dialogue in both Hebrew and Arabic, was first broadcast on Israeli television in 2015 and premiered on Netflix in December 2016. Netflix is due to release the second season in May.
In a posting on its website last week, the BDS Movement called on Netflix to "nix 'Fauda'" because it "glorifies the Israeli military's war crimes against the Palestinian people."
"Failing to do so will open Netflix to nonviolent grassroots pressure and possible legal accountability," the posting said.
Netflix declined to comment on Wednesday.
In its letter of support, the executives from the U.S.-based Creative Community for Peace called "Fauda" a "nuanced portrayal of issues related to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict."
"We want you to know that we stand behind you and Netflix in the face of this blatant attempt at artistic censorship," the letter said. Signatories included Universal Music Publishing Group Chief Executive Jody Gerson, Geffen Records president Neil Jacobson, and Steve Schnur, music president at video game producer Electronic Arts.
The campaign against "Fauda" is the latest effort in the BDS agenda to promote a global cultural boycott against Israel.
The movement has succeeded in recent years in dissuading a number of acts, including musicians Roger Waters, Elvis Costello and Lorde, from performing in Israel.
