I take it back. I don't think Von Trier meant to provoke for the sake of provocation. He's just a piss-poor public speaker.Uri wrote:No one, but no one, should mess up with us Jews. Hasn't Von Trier seen Inglorious Basterds, for God's sake?
Poor Lars has just been interviewed on the evening news here in Israel, being very awkwardly humble and all about the holocaust being the greatest crime against humanity ever, the respect he has for Jews and the fact that part of his family is Jewish, and that his harsh criticism is all about official Israel's conduct toward the Palestinians has and not about Jewish or Israeli people. He did however refuse to apologize but stated he was sorry if his statements were misunderstood and erroneously conceived as offensive.
I don't think he should have left, but he's likely better off. It wouldn't have been a pleasant rest-of-Cannes for him anyway.