“The point is that when we speak of narratives, legitimacy may not come from fact but from belief. We do not believe in the narratives because they are true; they are true because we believe in them. Sometimes these narratives fit well together, and sometimes they clash. When we speak of the land called Israel or Palestine, we seem to only speak of clash.”
Omer M. Mozaffar – Palestinian Journalist - July 22, 2014
Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian situation -- with its attendant issues of violence and repression, justice and fairness, peace and security, separating biblical Israel from the modern state of Israel, competing historical narratives, long-held myths and beliefs – is complex, difficult, and emotional. Especially now, when not a week goes by without a news headline generating confusion, controversy, and conflict. The topic of the Israeli-Palestinian “conflict” is a difficult conversation for most Americans to have, even for those who are informed and dispassionate. Most Americans are insufficiently informed and are conflicted on what to believe. Mainstream media, it is apparent, does not do a good job of presenting fully and fairly all sides of the issue; there is more “repeating” of the loudest voice than “reporting.” Lost in all of this cacophony are the voices of the people living in the Holy Land.
Voices From the Holy Land Film Series seeks to offer a different perspective. It seeks to provide a voice to the people living in this Holy Land. It seeks to present informative and compelling documentary films by Israeli, Palestinian, American, and European film makers to start conversations. Through these films and associated discussions, we hope to inform the audience that:
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Israel-Palestine history is often misunderstood
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Life under occupation is difficult and unfair
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Issues of justice and human-rights in Israel-Palestine are in the same continuum of the Civil-Rights struggles in our own country
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Many Israelis know and understand that continued occupation is not the solution
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Small groups of Israelis and Palestinians are coming together to promote peaceful solutions
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US policies and US media have affected our understanding of the current “conflict”
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There still reason to hope
Voices From the Holy Land Film Series is sponsored and supported by a coalition of thirty-three interfaith (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Unitarian) and interdenominational organizations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region whose members feel called by their faith to work for justice, human rights, and peace in the land that is holy to all three Abrahamic faiths. The 2017 Film Series is sponsored by:
Jerusalem Companion Diocese Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Grace Presbyterian Church - Springfield, Virginia
Westmoreland Congregational UCC
Supporter Organizations
Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace
The Alliance of Baptists’ Justice in Palestine & Israel
Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace
Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Jewish Voice for Peace Metro DC Chapter
Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore
Friends of Tent of Nations North America
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
Ravensworth Baptist Church
Rock Spring Congregational UCC
Israel Palestine Mission Network of the National Capital Presbytery, PCUSA
River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East Northern Virginia Chapter
Sabeel DC Metro
Rockville United Church
New Hope Baptist Church
Vienna Baptist Church
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
St. Patrick's Episcopal Church
Christ Church Durham Parish
Grace Episcopal Church
St. Francis of Assisi Pax Christi
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Middle East Working Group
St. Columba’s Episcopal Church
Little River United Church of Christ
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Virginia Theological Seminary