Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "World Press Photo" in English language version.
At the centre of the controversy are Amit Sha'al's project A Journey Through Time and Place, which is a series of archive photos set against their present-day backdrops in Israel (the images can be seen on the World Press Photo website). The series won 3rd prize in the Arts and Entertainment category.
'For a week it was no problem and then someone noticed that he is an Israeli photographer,' said to AP Erik de Kruijf, project manager for the exhibition. He said the Netherland based organisation preferred to shut down the whole exhibit ten days prior to the end rather than removing the work of one of the artists. 'We cannot allow censorship of any kind so that's why we decided to take everything down.'
A Lebanese security official said the General Security Directorate ordered the organizers to remove the work of Amit Shaal because he is Israeli. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he noted by way of explanation that the two nations were 'in a state of war.'
