This month I watched two movies about Palestine -- Lipstikka and Miral -- with one of my best friends, who happens to be Palestinian. As a Jew and a Zionist, I found the experience mildly surreal but hopeful too.
There was also a certain irony in discovering that both films -- neither of which was particularly flattering to the Israeli point of view -- were directed by Jews, which prompted my friend to ask incredulously: "Why would Jews make these movies?"
It was an interesting question and I wasn't quite sure how to answer without giving it some thought. I think the question, on his part, implied that if you're a Zionist and supporter of Israel, there's something a bit off about telling stories from the Palestinian point of view. There is -- on the surface. But not if you dig a little deeper.
Those on the right in Israel, like Hamas on the Palestinians side, have a habit of equating talking or consorting with "the enemy" as treason or self-hate. But for me, and those on the left, it's quite the opposite. Leftists on both sides believe in finding a solution to the conflict, not so much because they love their enemy -- that may be a little much to ask for from anyone -- but because they love their country. Unfortunately right now, those on the Palestinian left often fear for their lives, and (another point implied by my friend's question) many Arabs -- at least until very recently -- still culturally find it hard to speak out against power or question the prevailing view, which is why you won't see (m)any films by Arabs espousing a Jewish viewpoint. Even in Israel, right-wing and religious radicals continually call into question those who want compromise. Still, Israel is a democracy and Jews have a much longer history and level or comfort with dissent and debate.
Miral wasn't a particular good movie (okay it was downright awful) but one line -- spoken by a Palestinian terrorist turned peacenik -- said it all:
"This road is too bloody, it has no exit... We can't go on fighting forever...Two states. One state. I don't care. I want a future for our children."
Why are Jews making movies about the Palestinian experience? Maybe to send Palestinians that message.
"[....] Why are Jews making movies about the Palestinian experience? Maybe to send Palestinians that message."
This "rethorical question" is answered by yourself with arrogance, excluding any solution other than Palestinian surrender and submission. But then, you are a self-professed Zionist, so what can one expect but a continuation of this blind arrogance? Stop taking their land and destroying their future, would be my simple suggestion.
Posted by: Jan-Peter Scheffer | 24 October 2011 at 05:15 PM
Speaking of arrogance... I'm not exactly clear where you've read 'arrogance' in what I've written but, putting aside your ad hominem attacks, I'd love you to respond back and explain. What I wrote was that Israeli Jews are making movies that expose much of the ugliness on the Israeli side in an attempt to show Palestinian Arabs that there are a great many Israeli Jews against the occupation and prepared for hard compromise -- compromise which I, yes as a proud and unapologetic Zionist, support. How my call for compromise or the message of compromise and understanding in the movies I blogged about leads you to the conclusion that we want "surrender and submission" from Palestinians is, well frankly, a bit loopy. Holier than thou types like you who have walked in 100 years after the conflict began and think they know what they're talking about ought to do a bit more reading and bit less spouting off. I suppose, for instance, that you, as a great defender of the Palestinian people, were outraged when the Egyptians and Jordanians took "their land" from 1948 to 1967, or when the British took 2/3 of Palestine in 1922 and manufactured a country called Trans-Jordan? Or maybe not.... A little bit less rage and a little bit more understanding: that would be MY simple suggestion.
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Posted by: freelance writer jobs | 12 January 2012 at 02:31 PM