Films, Books Help Explain Unresolved Problems Facing Peace Negotiators

By Betsy Barlow

Residents of the U.S. may find difficulty in understanding the issues surrounding Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. With media pictures of smiling handshakes, it is easy to assume that problems have been resolved. When it becomes apparent through border closures, continued land confiscations and deaths that problems have not been resolved, Americans are baffled. Recently published videos and books shed some light on the remaining issues, and may be useful in high school and college classes and for community groups.

Sara Roy's new book The Gaza Strip: The Political Economy of De-Development, describes in careful detail the impact of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian economy. She makes a persuasive case that despite some advantages from the connection with Israel, because of Israeli political policies the economic development of Gaza was not only blocked, but some of the infrastructure in place in 1967 was actually undone. The book is helpful in understanding the extreme penury faced by most Palestinians in Gaza, and the challenge to improve economic performance to the level which might sustain a minimum level of well-being for most of the Palestinians. The author is a visiting scholar at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University. The book is available from the Institute for Palestine Studies in Washington, DC.

A video which clarifies the conflicts over crucial control of water resources is "River of Fire," distributed by Landmark Films, Falls Church, VA. In addition to explaining the claims of Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians on the Jordan watershed, the film also describes the changing situation on the Tigris and Euphrates, where Turkey is diverting water for vast irrigation projects in southeastern Turkey, depriving Iraq and Syria of resources which they were accustomed to receiving. Even the Nile River users exceed the supply. In 40 minutes this film (produced in 1991) gives an overview of competing demands which may potentially lead to conflict.

The Israeli occupation of south Lebanon periodically leads to death for both Lebanese and Israeli occupants of the region. The Israeli term, "The Good Fence," for its borders with southern Lebanon suggests a benign occupation and cordial relations. "Hostage of Time," a recent film by Jean Chemoun and Mai Masri of life in occupied southern Lebanon, provides insight into the life experienced by the Lebanese under Israeli rule. As is the habit with these filmmakers, the camera simply follows a few residents through a typical day. One also meets Israeli soldiers, who give their own stories with no preaching from the filmmakers.

The views of the settlers are extreme, to say the least.

The Israeli embassy has recently made available at no cost a video "The Wonders of Israel." While there is much to commend in this resource, it gives misleading background information about Palestinians. In the video and accompanying map, Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan are shown as part of Israel. In the population figures, Jews who live on the West Bank and in Gaza are included in the tabulations, but not the Palestinians; their land is included, but the approximately 2 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza seem to have disappeared. The casual reader may be lulled into thinking that the only Palestinians are the 700,000-plus residents in Israel, plus those in diaspora in Arab countries, the United States and the rest of the world. Why the fuss about land confiscations, the casual viewer of the Israeli embassy videotape might wonder, since there are apparently no people living on the land. Likewise, the viewer may wonder why Israel is obsessed with security concerns if it only has a 20 percent or so Palestinian population.

Backgrounds: A Brief History of Israel and the Arab/Palestinian Conflict by Barbara Pfeffer, could have filled a much-needed gap in providing background only for the Israeli perceptions. In describing the Palestinian exodus in 1947-48 it falls back on such totally discredited explanations as radio broadcasts by Arab leaders. (Erkine Childers and others have painstakingly gone through the radio broadcasts of this period which happen to have been recorded. No such broadcasts have ever been found.)

A video which highlights the range of opinion within Israel on treatment of the Palestinians is Micha Peled's "Inside God's Bunker." It focuses on the settler mentality in Hebron, and filming started before the massacre at the Ibrahimi mosque in February 1994. The views of the settlers are extreme, to say the least. We follow them on a "heritage" march through the center of Hebron, and witness the inability of the Israeli army, who are supposed to be their guides and protectors, to control the provocative acts of the settlers. The film contains some shots taken in the aftermath of the massacre. Most chilling and depressing are scenes of young Israeli children being taught to hate. They are told that Baruch Goldstein (who committed the massacre) was a hero of Israel. We hear them singing a song of praise for Ami Popper (who perpetrated a massacre in May 1992 at Rishon le Zion.)

Nuanced Understanding Needed

Existence of this film points to a split within the Jewish community over issues of dealing with the Palestinian population. Observant Americans will have seen the Labor leadership of Israel supporting U.S. grants of minimal aid to the Palestinians, while the allies of the Likud in the U.S. fought the measure. A more nuanced understanding of the agendas of competing groups of Israelis may help the U.S. public to understand why American leaders must craft a more effective Middle East policy based upon realities and not upon the country, or faction within that country, which has the most active lobby in Washington, DC. This film is available from AMEU, Room 570, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115-0241, for $41.50.

Another effective film is "Testimonies," produced by a group of Israeli soldiers who have served in the West Bank and Gaza during the occupation. The motivation is a desire to share with the Israeli public the deeds that as soldiers they were compelled to execute while on duty with the IDF. Soldiers are interviewed about their experiences. Tapes are shown of military actions, including the infamous CBS tape from early in the intifada of the lengthy beating of a teenager. Those involved are questioned about their current attitudes toward their actions while in service. The end result is a film which illustrates that the occupation created victims on both sides. This film, directed by Ido Selo, is available from Rachel Gai, 3624 North Forgeus, Tucson, AZ 85716, phone (602) 323-2851.

"Struggle for Peace: Israelis and Palestinians" by Elizabeth Fernea, though made in 1992, is still very useful. It shows Israeli peace groups like Women in Black and Yesh Gvul, and Palestinian-Israeli dialogue groups at work. Participants explain why they are committed, and why it is hard to accomplish their aims. The video is available from First Run/Icarus Films in New York.

Three new books may be helpful in gaining insights into problems with U.S. policy. Hanan Ashrawi's This Side of Peace offers numerous examples of U.S. diplomats who were either poorly informed or biased in their official activities. Naseer Aurui, in a recently published book The Obstruction of Peace: The U.S., Israel, and the Palestinians, details U.S. policy to undermine and circumvent U.N. resolutions based on the inadmissability of acquisition of territory by force. Avi Shlaim, an Israeli now teaching at Oxford University, provides, in War and Peace in the Middle East, a critique of American policy. These books, or sections of them, would make useful reading in a Middle East politics course.

The question of Jerusalem will be addressed in an international conference sponsored by Sabeel, the Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem, in consultation with the Middle East Council of Churches, Jan. 22 to 27, 1996 at the YMCA in East Jerusalem. Entitled "The Significance of Jerusalem for Christians and of Christians for Jerusalem," the program starts on Monday, Jan. 22 with a walking tour of Jerusalem's Old City, and remarks by the various patriarchs of Jerusalem. Ten sessions are offered from Tuesday, Jan. 23, through Friday, Jan. 26, including "Current Realities: The Christian Community and the Closure of Jerusalem," "The Changing Face of Jerusalem," "The Future of Jerusalem," and "Requirements for a Just Legal Resolution." The program includes a visit to Nazareth, lunch on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, and an optional tour of Gaza. The registration fee of $100 covers lunches Monday to Saturday, transportation during the conference, and entrance fees to all conference sessions and events. Special conference rates are available for travel and hotels. For questions or registration, contact Sabeel, Canon Naim Ateek, Director, P.O. Box 1248, Jerusalem; phone 972 2 289415; fax 972 2 283869.

Betsy Barlow is the outreach coordinator of the University of Michigan's Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies.