June 19, 2013

Israel distances itself from Prophet Muhammad film

BY: AP Staff Writer SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 | MODIFIED: SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 AT 9:03 AM
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Photo -   Egyptian protesters climb the walls of the U.S. embassy with Arabic graffiti that reads "any one but you God's prophet" during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012. Egyptian protesters, largely ultra conservative Islamists, have climbed the walls of the U.S. embassy in Cairo, went into the courtyard and brought down the flag, replacing it with a black flag with Islamic inscription, in protest of a film deemed offensive of Islam. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Egyptian protesters climb the walls of the U.S. embassy with Arabic graffiti that reads "any one but you God's prophet" during a protest in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012. Egyptian protesters, largely ultra conservative Islamists, have climbed the walls of the U.S. embassy in Cairo, went into the courtyard and brought down the flag, replacing it with a black flag with Islamic inscription, in protest of a film deemed offensive of Islam. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli government is distancing itself from a filmmaker whose movie ridiculing the Prophet Muhammad sparked a deadly riot at an American consulate in Libya, but says it will be "vigilant" at its diplomatic offices overseas.

The movie, "Innocence of Muslims," was produced by Sam Bacile, a 56-year-old California real estate developer who has said he's both Israeli and American. The film depicts Muhammad as a fraud, womanizer and madman.

Protesters offended by the movie stormed the U.S. consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi late Tuesday, killing the ambassador and three other Americans.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Wednesday the film "has nothing to do whatsoever with Israel." Still, he said Israel will "have to be vigilant."

He would not say whether any extra precautions were taken.

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