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Director rejects Israel link before Oscars

The Israeli-Arab co-director of Ajami said he should not be seen as representing Israel -- "a country that doesn't represent me" -- at the Academy Awards.

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The Israeli-Arab co-director of Ajami, an Oscar-nominated foreign language film, said on Sunday he should not be seen as representing Israel -- "a country that doesn't represent me" -- at the Academy Awards.                                           

Scandar Copti's remarks, in an interview from Los Angeles with Israel Radio, were condemned by Israel''s culture minister, who said she was saddened that a film-maker who accepted government funds for the movie was criticising his country.        

"The movie technically represents Israel," Copti said. "I don''t represent Israel. I am an Israeli citizen but I cannot represent a country that doesn''t represent me."                                           

His comments echoed complaints by many Arab citizens, who make up a fifth of Israel's population, that they suffer discrimination particularly in funding.                                           

Ajami, a tale of crime and violence set in a largely Arab populated slum in Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv, is Israel''s third consecutive film to be nominated for a foreign language Oscar since 2007.

Copti directed the film with Jewish-Israeli Yaron Shani.

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