Gibson’s Christ film under fire from Jews

REPRESENTATIVES of two Jewish groups who attended screenings of Mel Gibson’s forthcoming film, The Passion of the Christ, said it contained offensive stereotypes about the Jewish role in the crucifixion.

The American Jewish Committee, which sent its interfaith experts to church screenings in Florida and Illinois, said yesterday that the movie contained “unnecessary and destructive imagery of Jews” and “represents a disturbing setback” to relations between Jews and Christians.

National director of the Jewish rights group Anti-Defamation League Abraham Foxman, who has accused Gibson of holding anti-Semitic views, saw the film on Wednesday night in Florida. He said it is an “unambiguous portrayal of Jews as being responsible for the death of Jesus”.