Police this week halted two cultural events in East Jerusalem after the Jerusalem District Commander, Superintendent Avshalom Peled, signed orders prohibiting them. An exhibition planned at Al-Hakawati Theatre and a screening of the film “Palestine 36” at the Yabous Cultural Centre in Sheikh Jarrah were stopped as part of the Shield of the Capital operation.
Officers from the Jerusalem District Central Unit arrived on Tuesday at Al-Hakawati Theatre in East Jerusalem and prevented an exhibition that was scheduled to take place as part of the “Jerusalem Ambassador” project. Several days earlier, on Thursday, Central Unit officers went to the Yabous Cultural Centre in Sheikh Jarrah and halted a planned screening of the film “Palestine 36”.
In both cases, the district commander signed orders banning the events after, according to police, information had accumulated indicating that the activities were intended to promote and support the goals of a terrorist organization.
“Jerusalem District Commander, Superintendent Avshalom Peled, signed an order prohibiting the event after information accumulated indicating that the activity was intended to promote and support the goals of a terrorist organization,” police said.
What is the Shield of the Capital operation in Jerusalem?
The Shield of the Capital operation is a programme led by the Jerusalem District Police aimed, according to police statements, at strengthening governance and law enforcement in East Jerusalem. Police say the operation is intended to prevent activity by groups identified with terrorist organizations, stop incitement offences and act against events that, based on police information, are used to advance such goals.
Police stress that the activity is not directed against culture itself, but against the use of cultural frameworks to promote messages and content that, in their assessment, are linked to terrorist activity.
Why did the film Palestine 36 draw police attention?
The film “Palestine 36”, written and directed by Annemarie Jacir, depicts the Arab revolt of 1936 to 1939 against British rule during the Mandate period. The film presents a Palestinian historical narrative of that period and focuses on an early stage of the conflict.
According to police, intelligence information indicated that the screening of the film at the Yabous Cultural Centre in Jerusalem was not intended to be only a cultural event, but part of a broader effort by groups identified with a terrorist organization to advance their objectives.
The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, received a 20 minute standing ovation and was selected as the Palestinian submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
Police say the Shield of the Capital operation will continue “across all areas, with the aim of strengthening governance and law enforcement in East Jerusalem, preventing the activity of groups identified with terrorist organizations, thwarting and preventing incitement offences, and continuing to ensure the safety and security of all the city’s residents”.
