'Munich does not attack Israel'

Steven Spielberg defends his controversial film following attacks from various Jewish figures and advocacy groups.

Celebrated filmmaker Steven Spielberg has defended his controversial film Munich, following attacks from various Jewish figures and advocacy groups.

HT Image

The film depicts Israel intelligence agency Mossad's hunt for the Palestinian terrorists who killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

In comments made at a roundtable discussion with Newsweek editors and a number of Directors Guild award nominees, Spielberg said the film never attacked Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported Monday.

"Munich never once attacks Israel, and barely criticises Israel's policy of counter-violence against violence. It simply asks a plethora of questions. It's the most questioning story I've ever had the honour to tell," he said.

"For that, we are accused of moral equivocation, which we didn't intend and we're not guilty of".

The director said he knew the movie would generate reactions from the right, but he expressed surprise at the smaller, "but no less painful," volley from the left.