The Lebanese General Security Directorate recently reviewed director Steven Spielberg's film "The Post" because of his ties with Israel, and its censorship committee decided to ban the movie because Spielberg is on a blacklist for "Schindler’s List." A few days later, the decision was reversed and the movie was allowed in cinemas.

Movie censorship in Lebanon is haphazard, with decisions based loosely on a 1947 law and often made under pressure from religious and political groups. Censorship is based on four subjective considerations, which include respect for public morals, state authorities' reputations, sectarian and religious sensitivities and Lebanon's interests.

Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk, who is responsible for ratifying the committee’s decision, decided not to do so. In a Jan. 17 statement, the ministry said Machnouk saw no objection to tthe showing of the film, which “has no connection with Lebanon or to the conflict with the Israeli enemy.”

About the same time, the Interior Ministry decided to ban the movie “Jungle” two weeks after its release. "Jungle" is the story of three friends who get lost in the Bolivian Amazon in 1981, based on the real experience and book of Israeli Yossi Ghinsberg. Although the movie scarcely refers to Israel, it was taken out of theaters because of complaints and pressure from the Lebanese branch of the Campaign to Boycott the Supporters of Israel, which argued that the movie is based on a “Zionist’s” story and pointed out that producer Dana Lustig is also Israeli.