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Palestinian story, told by American Jewish director, attracts Israeli anger before being premiered at UN.

UNITED NATIONS - Israel has complained to the United Nations for
allowing the US premiere of a controversial film on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the UN headquarters.

A red-carpet showing of "Miral" by award winning American-Jewish
director Julian Schnabel will be held at the UN General Assembly hall on
Monday.

The film is based on an autobiographical novel by Palestinian
journalist Rula Jebreal that traces the Arab-Israeli conflict after 1948
from a Palestinian perspective. The lead role is played by Indian
actress Freida Pinto of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame.

"This is clearly a politicized decision of the UN, one that shows
poor judgment and a lack of even-handedness," Israel's mission to the UN
said in a statement which called on General Assembly president Joseph
Deiss of Switzerland not to host the event in the headquarters.

General Assembly spokesman Jean-Victor Nkolo denied there was any
"political link" to the film, which is a French, Israeli, Italian,
Indian co-production.

"It is just a venue," he said. "Several films have been shown at the UN."

But Haim Waxman, Israel's deputy ambassador, said: "We are not aware
of any other films with such contentious poli... >>>