'Ajami' director says he doesn't represent Israel

Occupied Jerusalem: The Israeli-Arab co-director of the Oscar-nominated film "Ajami" has set off a last-minute uproar by saying he will not be representing his country at Sunday's awards ceremony.

Scandar Copti directed the film with a Jewish Israeli partner. The film depicts the brutal life of drugs, violence and poverty in a mixed Jewish-Arab neighbourhood in the city of Jaffa.

The movie has been nominated for best foreign-language film.

Copti has been critical of discriminatory Israeli policies toward its Arab minority.

Copti told Israel's Channel 2 TV he realises the film is technically Israeli, since it received government funding. But he said he cannot represent a country that he feels doesn't represent him.

Israel's culture minister condemned the comments.