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‘Wonder Woman’ banned in Lebanon because of Israeli actress

The movie “Wonder Woman” is banned in Lebanon because the lead actress Gal Gadot is Israeli, Lebanese officials announced.

The Ministry of Economy and Trade made the decision Wednesday to institute the ban before “Wonder Woman” hit the silver screen this weekend.

A group called “Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel” has been working to urge the Lebanese government to block the film due to lead actress Gal Gadot’s ethnicity.

Gadot served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces, the national military service mandatory for Israeli citizens over 18. The group said Gadot “boasted about the army training for Hollywood.”

“We refuse to normalize relations with an enemy state,” said Rania Masri, a member of the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel-Lebanon. “We’re not talking about a political disagreement, were talking about resistance against occupation.”

One of Lebanon’s largest theater chains, Grand Cinemas, officially announced the ban on Twitter. “#WonderWoman has been banned in #Lebanon,” the tweet said.

The Ministry of Economy of Trade said in a statement the government has “taken all necessary action” to ban the film.

A counter-petition titled “Release Wonder Woman in Lebanon” has been published to challenge the ban. Organizers argue that previous films starring Gal Gadot, such as “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Furious 7,” have successfully screened in Lebanon.

“Gal Gadot may be an Israeli, but we want to watch a movie about the amazing character of Wonder Woman,” the petition said.

The petition also argued that “Wonder Woman” was made by production companies in the U.S. and China.

What do you think? Should Lebanon ban “Wonder Woman” from its theaters? Share your thoughts on the Lebanese Examiner Facebook page.

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 Business

Hajj Hasan: Trade deficit must be reduced, by any means

BEIRUT: Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan said Thursday that Lebanon must reduce its trade deficit, even if doing so requires adopting protectionist policies.

“This method is followed by all countries. The GDP is less than $50 billion. Is it fair to have a five-year trade deficit that is equal to the GDP for one year? How can we build a healthy economy if we continue this path?” Hajj Hasan said.

“If at some point we’re compelled to place protectionist tariffs, then we will do it to preserve our productive institutions and competition capabilities.”

Lebanon’s trade deficit widened by 2.525 percent in 2013 compared with 2012, as exports fell by more than $480 million, according to the Customs Department.

“I have informed the ambassadors I have met with that the ministry will preserve the country’s industry with the continuation of imports. But we should strive in the foreseeable future to increase exports by $1 billion to $2 billion and reduce imports by the same amount,” the minister told industrialists and officials at the HORECA exhibition at BEIL.

Hajj Hasan called on officials to raise these issues during the trade talks with other countries in order to protect the national industries.

The minister called on the agro-food industries to abide by all international standards, warning that he would not tolerate any violations or slackness.

Source: The Daily Star

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