Lebanese Newspaper Calls to Boycott Marvel’s ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Over Israeli Producer’s Support for Netanyahu

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, affiliated with Hezbollah, has called for a boycott of the Marvel film "Spider-Man: No Way Home" as part of a broader campaign to boycott Israeli supporters in Lebanon. The boycott demand centers on Israeli producer Avi Arad, one of Marvel’s founders, who is criticized for his outspoken support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his policies during the ongoing conflict.

Al-Akhbar’s article highlights Arad’s background, noting he was born in Ramat Gan, Israel (referred to as "occupied Palestine" in the piece), and later moved to the United States. It also mentions his partnership in acquiring Marvel Studios in the 1990s alongside Israeli-American billionaire Isaac Perlmutter, a known supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The newspaper condemns Arad’s political stance, citing a 2024 open letter in which Arad accused U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of "betrayal" for criticizing Netanyahu and calling for Israeli elections, labeling Schumer’s position as aligned with pro-Palestinian factions within the Democratic Party.

The article further criticizes Arad for defending Netanyahu’s conduct during the ongoing war, which has entered its third year in Gaza, and contextualizes the film’s release amid what it describes as ethnic cleansing in southern Lebanon. The boycott campaign questions whether audiences should support entertainment projects linked to individuals who openly back Israel politically. "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is expected to be one of the summer’s biggest box office hits despite the calls for boycott.

Summary: Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar urges a boycott of Marvel’s "Spider-Man: No Way Home" due to Israeli producer Avi Arad’s support for Netanyahu amid ongoing regional conflict. The campaign links Arad’s political views and background to broader calls to boycott Israeli-affiliated projects in Lebanon.

Points: - Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar calls to boycott "Spider-Man: No Way Home" over Israeli producer Avi Arad’s political stance. - Arad is criticized for supporting Netanyahu and opposing U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer’s calls for Israeli elections. - Arad was born in Ramat Gan and co-founded Marvel Studios with Israeli-American Isaac Perlmutter. - The boycott campaign ties the film’s release to ongoing conflict and alleged ethnic cleansing in southern Lebanon. - "Spider-Man: No Way Home" remains a major summer release despite boycott efforts.

Topic: politics israel_relevant: true entities: {"people":["Avi Arad","Benjamin Netanyahu","Chuck Schumer","Isaac Perlmutter","Donald Trump"],"organizations":["Marvel Studios","Al-Akhbar","Hezbollah"],"places":["Lebanon","Ramat Gan","Gaza","United States"]}