The WBC, a cultural center, had planned to show the film about the Palestinian hijacker to its audience. However, the Israeli foreign ministry condemned the planned screening, warning that such a move could potentially encourage similar incidents in the future, the Arabic-language Arabi 21 online newspaper reported.
In response to the criticism, the institution canceled the program and clarified that hosting the event did not signify an endorsement of Leila Khaled's views.
Leila Khaled made headlines for her role in the 1969 hijacking of an American airplane that resulted in the pilots landing the plane in Syria while en route from Rome to Athens.
All passengers, except for the Israeli passengers onboard, were released the following day. The detained Israelis remained in Syrian custody for three months until they were eventually freed in a prisoner exchange.
Leila Khaled attempted another hijacking a year later in 1970, targeting an Israeli plane traveling from Tel Aviv to New York, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
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