Pro-Palestinian organizations have harshly criticized the recent Marvel announcement that actress Shira Haas will appear in its next Captain American installment as Israeli superheroine Sabra.
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The Institute for Middle East Understanding, a pro-Palestinian NGO, denounced the move, saying that "by glorifying the Israeli military and police, Marvel is encouraging Israel's violence against Palestinians and allows the continued oppression of millions of Palestinians living under Israel's authoritarian military regime."
Critics also claimed that many of the Arab characters Sabra interacts with in the comic are portrayed as misogynistic, antisemitic, and violent and wondered whether the disturbing portrayals would be the same in the film. Marvel tried to ease tensions, telling CNN that "characters are always freshly reimagined to fit today's cinema and audiences."
In Israel, however, the announcement was welcomed with praise. Avner Avraham, a former intelligence officer and founder of the Spy Legends agency, which advises on films and TV shows featuring Israeli spies, told US media that this new portrayal of Sabra will empower the younger generation to get to know the Mossad better.
"It's the TikTok way, the cartoon way of talking to the new generation. They'll learn the word Mossad," he said, adding that such exposure can even help the Israeli secret service recruit sources in other countries.
First appearing in The Incredible Hulk comics in 1981, Sabra, whose real identity is Ruth Bat-Seraph, is a mutant working for the Mossad, who fights in a white and blue suit featuring the Star of David. Trained in a kibbutz, her superpowers include immunity to bullets as well as super strength and speed. She has access to Mossad files and knows the secret identities and personal histories of a number of superheroes. Above all, she fiercely defends the rights of Jews and mutants.
Actress Shira Haas gained popularity in Israel for her role in the ultra-Orthodox drama series "Shtisel" and international acclaim for Netflix's "Unorthodox."
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
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