Citing reasons of conscience, 36 prominent Israeli theatre directors, actors and writers have declared a boycott of a new cultural centre to be opened soon in a settlement in the West Bank town of Ariel, media reports said Sunday, dpa reported.
The group sent a letter to several theatre directors around Israel declaring their boycott aims.
Among those signing the letter was famous dramatist Joshua Sobol, author of, among other works, the triptych of plays, Ghetto, Adam and Underground.
"We wish to express our revulsion of the fact that theatres are planning performances in the new hall in Ariel," the letter said.
"The actors below hereby declare that they will refuse to perform in Ariel, as in every other settlement," it added.
The letter stirred controversy in Israel with some right-wing politicians calling for cutting the budgets of those theatres which do not perform in the occupied areas.
Culture Minister Limor Livnat of the ruling Likud Party also criticized the letter.
"This is creating division in society and discriminates between audiences on the basis of the artists' political viewpoint. Culture is a social bridge and political debate should remain outside of the cultural and artistic life," she argued.
Ariel in the heart of the northern West Bank, is home to some 17,000 Israelis and is one of the settlements which Israel aims to keep under a future peace accord with the Palestinians.
The Palestinians are demanding that it be evacuated because the road links between Israel and Ariel cut deeply into Palestinian territory.
The Ariel cultural centre, built at a cost of some 11 million dollars, is to be opened in November.
Several theatres - in Habima, Cameri, Khan, Habima and Beersheva - have already scheduled performances there, while several theatre directors have distanced themselves from the boycott letter.