Marvel is introducing its first Israeli superhero, Sabra, into the MCU.
During the D23 Expo over the weekend, it was announced that Israeli actress Shira Haas will play the character in the coming film Captain America: New World Order, which is set to be released in 2024.
As details are usually tight around the plots of Marvel films, it is not yet known how big a role Haas will have or if she will be on the side of the bad guys or join forces with Captain America in trying to stop them.
However, the news has sparked a backlash, with some taking to social media to share their criticism.
Before we get into that, though, here’s what you need to know about Sabra.
Who is Sabra?
Sabra is the alias of Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Mossad spy who happens to be a mutant and has special powers that include super-strength, speed and the ability to fly. She became a police officer in addition to serving as a government agent.
Her official debut in the comics was controversial. In 1981’s Incredible Hulk #256, she mistakenly believes the Hulk is working with terrorists in Israel and the two fight.
After a young Arab boy named Sahad is killed by those terrorists, she goes after the Hulk who then gives her a speech about the Arab-Israeli conflict and the death of Sahad.
Sabra was not a main character, making only 50 appearances in the comic books over the years since her debut.
She’s appeared in other adventures and various storylines, such as teaming up with the Arabian Knight during the Contest of Champions, a three-issue limited comic book series in 1982, and getting caught up in the anti-mutant campaign, fighting alongside the X-Men in a 1997 story arc.
Her last comic book appearance was in 2019's Avengers #11 issue, where she represents the Israeli government in a meeting called by Black Panther.
The controversy
While the term “sabra” is used for a Jewish person born in Israel and is also Hebrew for prickly pear, some feel it's an insensitive name.
One Twitter user referenced the Sabra and Shatila Massacre of 1982, when thousands of Palestinian refugees were killed by Lebanese Christian militia in a refugee camp in Beirut, while Israeli troops took no action to prevent it.
Others praised Marvel's decision to announce an Israeli superhero. Sasha Kaplan tweeted her excitement over a Jewish actress playing the part.
"Wow. Marvel actually got a Jewish actress to play a Jewish character," she wrote. "Gotta admit, I didn't see Sabra coming. I'm excited and worried at the same time. Here's hoping they do it right."
Another user also pointed to the fact that Sabra is actually "an anti-IDF [Israeli Army] superhero" whose "whole origin is anti-colonialism and anti zionism".
Another user tweeted about how "embarrassingly tone deaf" it felt for Marvel to introduce an Israeli and Jewish superhero in a film called New World Order.
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
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THREE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions