NEW EVENTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED
Fridays 10:30 AM Eastern: KKFI Radio
KKFI Radio Show: "Understanding Israel Palestine"
Featuring: Weekly radio interview show with Jamie Jackson and Margot Patterson. Archived episodes at www.kkfi.org/program/understanding-israel-palestine/
For more info: http://www.kkfi.org
***
Link to letter
Read Open Letter to President Biden from The Elders’ Foundation
Featuring: The Elders was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007. They are an independent group of global leaders working for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet. Read the open letter on The Elders website.
For more info: https://theelders.org/news/dear-president-biden-elders-open-letter-israel-and-palestine?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=
***
Link for recording on Youtube
Rebroadcast of “Muslims on the Margins” with Prof Katrina Daly Thompson
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X5zxiEQSB0
***
Link for recording
Recording of Zoom discussion with Leah Harris and Dr Philip Farah
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMQgLW6oNk4
***
Link for information
Middle East Books and More offers Palestinian products for purchase
Featuring:
For more info: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGwHpShjbCXMxRvsZglGddsrtMP
***
Link to YouTube
Novara Media discussion, “Does Everyone Want Gaza’s Gas?”
Featuring: Moya Lothian-McLean talks to Rachel Donald of 'Planet: Critical' about the huge gas reserves off Gaza's coast.
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UEcwiscadU
***
Link to video
“Killing Gaza’s Brightest and Best”
Featuring: Watch Ahmed Alnaouq and Matt Kenard describe Israel targeting Gaza’s future
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUoIJ65ksJA
***
Link to video
Arab Center of Washington DC recording of discussion with Hanan Ashrawi and ACW Executive Director Khalil Jahshan, “The Gaza War, the West Bank, and the Day After”
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E3kUf08m7s
***
10/30/23-12/3/23 11:00 AM: Register for event
Israel-Palestine Digital Symposium, “Facing Israel’s Historic Moment: Points of Light in the Struggle to Sustain Democracy”
Featuring: Israel’s most critical hour to save democracy is upon us. The protest movement, filling the streets of Tel Aviv and elsewhere, is unprecedented in both its breadth and length. We at Partners, inspired by this movement on the ground, ask how the democracy
For more info: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/p9iwkzjEkO0eciIOqtPyWg
***
11/19/23-1/31/24: In person: 1764 Litchfield Turnpike, Woodbridge CT; Zoom: registration required
Palestine Museum US presents “The Art of Gaza” in support of Gaza Artists
Featuring: Join us for the ‘Art of Gaza,’ exhibition featuring 8 Gazan artists and 30 works of art, in addition to 50 drawings by Gaza children of the Israeli attack in 2008/2009 ‘Operation Cast Lead.’
For more info: https://www.palestinemuseum.us/events/2023/gaza-art
***
11/28/23 10:00 AM: Register for event
Bright Stars of Bethlehem Zoom event, “Humanizing Hope in Palestine” with Rev. Dr Mitri Raheb
Featuring: This live event will provide an in-depth update on the facts on the ground, as well as insights on Gaza and the West Bank.
For more info: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W0eJxsogSw6r60McjQAVpQ#/registration
***
11/28/23 10:30 AM: Register for event
Zoom Webinar, Middle East Institute Leadership Series: Episode 20 with Centcom Chief Technology Officer Schuyler Moore
Featuring: MEI Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense and Security Program Bilal Y. Saab speaks with Schuyler Moore, chief technology officer at CENTCOM. This conversation will focus on the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) in U.S. defense policy and securi
For more info: https://mei.edu/events/mei-defense-leadership-series-episode-20-centcom-chief-technology-officer-schuyler-moore
***
11/28/223 4:00 PM: Middle East Institute, 1736 N Street NW, Washington DC 20036; Register for event
Middle East Institute presents a book talk, “The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea”
Featuring: Please join us at the Middle East Institute for an in-person discussion with author Shadi Hamid and Thomas Carothers, Co-Director and Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on the strat
For more info: https://mei.edu/events/problem-democracy-america-middle-east-and-rise-and-fall-idea-author-shadi-hamid-and-carnegie
***
11/28/23 5:30 PM: Register for event
Women’s National Democratic Club presents Max Blumenthal
Featuring: Bi-monthly committee meeting
For more info: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ek23bt1l9a8d11a1&oseq=&c=&ch=
***
11/28/23 6:00 PM: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 301 A St SE, Washington DC
CMEP event: Vigil for Peace with Palestinian Christian leaders from Bethlehem and Jerusalem
Featuring: Palestinian Christian leaders from Bethlehem and Jerusalem are making a historic visit to DC to press for a permanent peace in the halls of American power. Join us for a night of prayer and petition with them. This event is in person only. No registration
For more info: www.CMEP.org
***
11/29/23 11:00 AM: American University, McDowell Hall Formal Lounge
Join Palestine Teach-in at American University
Featuring: Join Professors Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Mariam Durrani, Robert Goldman and Dr Reverend Tony Lee as they discuss “A Compassionate and Lasting Peace in Palestine-Israel”
For more info: Contact Barbara Wien barbarawien@verizon.net
***
11/29/23 2:00 PM: Register for event
Join Jim Zogby for Coffee and a Column, “Definitions Matter”
***
11/29/23 2:00 PM: Register for event
Zoom Conversation with Rev Graylan Hagler, “Black Lives Matter, Palestinian Lives Matter”
Featuring: Graylan Hagler is a prophetic voice for the oppressed, from Black, Latinx, and other marginalized US communities experiencing racism in the U.S. to Palestinians living under Israel’s brutal apartheid system. He is founder and director of Faith Strategies
For more info: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpduisrjIoHte9wYb-Qjn8-hSyxl47yXv7#/registration
***
11/29/23 5:30 PM: Qatar American Institute for Culture, 1319 18th Street NW, Washington DC 20036
Arab America Foundation event, “Healing Together”
Featuring: Arab America Foundation welcomes you to join us for a gather to grieve, heal and support one another on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
For more info: info@arabamerica.com
***
11/29/23 7:00 PM: Register for event
Israel Policy Forum, “Wartime Update” with Alex Lederman
For more info: https://ipfatidnov29dc.rsvpify.com/?securityToken=ALQ3crnSrWV74RPeM01hOdNGuLpiqNNm
***
11/29/23 7:00 PM: RSVP to attend
Join UNRWA USA for “A Nationwide Virtual Vigil”
Featuring: You are invited to join UNRWA USA on November 29th, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, for a nationwide virtual vigil.
For more info: https://getinvolved.unrwausa.org/event/united-for-gaza-a-nationwide-virtual-vigil/e542835
***
11/30/23 10:00 AM: Register to attend
Arab Center Washington DC presents webinar, “Assessing America’s Response to the Gaza Crisis: The White House, Congress and the American Public”
Featuring: The war on Gaza is having devastating consequences for Palestinians, Israel, the region, and the world. Perhaps more than any other crisis in recent years, this moment has reverberations across the globe. How has the United States responded to this moment
For more info: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5417002366865/WN_GQlTqnFYQsm_W9KVbSgSSQ#/registration
***
11/30/23 2:00 PM: Register for event
Americans for Peace Now Webinar, “UNRWA’s Gaza Challenge”
Featuring: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides services to most residents of the Gaza Strip, including education, health care, relief, and social services. William (Bill) Deere, the director of UNRWA’s
***
12/2/23 & 12/3/23 12:00 PM: 646 Independence Avenue SE, Washington DC 20003
JVP-DC Metro Chapter Holiday Fundraiser, Handmade Pottery Sale
Featuring: Unique functional pottery by JVP-DC Metro Chapter member, MARTIN KARCHER – including bowls, vases, mugs, teapots, platters, casseroles, and more. MARTIN has been producing pottery for over 45 years. He is a member of the Kiln Club and Ceramic Guild of Was
For more info: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGwHpMwbNQZxpCHXsrJfPVNnQSK
***
12/3/23-1/7/24: Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, 1400 Quincy Street NE, Washington DC 20017
View nativity scenes from around the world, celebrating the 800th anniversary of St Francis’ first Nativity Scene in Greccio
***
12/5/23 1:00 PM: Register for event
Middle East Study Center and Balfour Project present, The Prime Minister Lecture, “In Conversation with Salam Fayyad”
Featuring: Professor Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority (2007-2013) will be in conversation with Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Sir Vincent Fear and Sir Tom Phillips, both of the MESC.
For more info: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/344012331968718939
***
12/5/23 & 12/6/23: Link for information
Join Voices From a Changing Middle East for “Almond Blossom at Dear Yassim” by Hanna Eady
For more info: https://www.voicesfestivalproductions.com/performances-newplaydevelopment202324-1-1-1-1
***
12/12/23 4:00 PM: The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in American, 1400 Quincy Street NE, Washington DC 20017
Music at the Monastery Concert Series presents Brass of Peace with organist Lisa Tyler
***
1/6/24-1/17/24: Pilgrimage info
Lightlines Pilgrimages, “Come and See!”, a pilgrimage following the footsteps of Jesus
Featuring: This pilgrimage will be led by Rev. Greg Rickel and the Right Rev Anne Hodges-Copple
For more info: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGtxKSjQTFmPZWRnSrghpLtPPDz?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1
***
2/2024:
St. Anne’s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Featuring: Check with Rev Musser for status
For more info: Contact Rev. Jon Musser, frjon@stannesdamascus.org
***
3/4-3/13/24: Register for Pilgrimage
Americans for Peace Now Pilgrimage to Israel-Palestine
Featuring: Check with APN for status
For more info: https://mejditours.com/open-tour/americans-for-peace-now-2024/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=80166007-2c05-41df-a145-894ca8d9eae4
***
4/9-11/24: For more info
2024 CMEP Advocacy Summit
Featuring: Join CMEP in Washington, DC as we mark Four Decades of Pursuing Peace at our annual Advocacy Summit from April 9-11, 2024. Spend time looking back at CMEP's 40 year history while hearing how CMEP will continue its work to advocate for peace and justice fo
For more info: https://cmep.org/event/40th-anniversary-advocacy-summit/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=c6ed9450-fdb7-4879-9875-c740fd6689ca
***
5/8/24 - 5/18/24: Rescheduled from Oct 2023 - Contact Laurie Salameh for more info: lauriesalam@gmail.com
Seraj Tour of the Holy Land
Featuring: Seraj Executive Director Laurie Salameh and her staff have set the date for the 2024 Seraj Tour. View a short (9 minute) video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=easOKBPYViE from the 2022 tour, shot in various locations, with heartfelt testimonies from se
For more info: https://www.serajlibraries.org/2024-tour
***
6/23/24 - 7/6/24:
"Living Stones" Solidarity Tour - Palestine and Israel
Featuring: Pilgrimage tour to the Holy Land. Dr. Spath is Executive Director of the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace and has led over 30 trips to Palestine/Israel.
For more info: Contact Dr. Michael Spath, lmichaelspath@gmail.com
***
Other Items
***
Link to film resource list
Just Vision offers films and in depth discussion guides
For more info: www.justvision.org
***
Link to film
Abrahamic Reunion video “Peace is Possible”
Featuring: Featuring interview footage from the 2022 Peace Summit and other footage shot by Amertat Cohn and Sunseed Productions, this new 5-minute film showcases the hopeful and determined vision for peace that the peacemakers of the Abrahamic Reunion work for and
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcpPF3CBVdo
***
Link for information
Video tool tracking damage to Gaza
Featuring: A new tool, originally developed to estimate damage in Ukraine, has now been adapted and applied to Gaza. The tool can estimate the number of damaged buildings and the pre-war population in a given area within the Gaza Strip.
For more info: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/11/15/a-new-tool-allows-researchers-to-track-damage-in-gaza/
***
Link to YouTube
Arab Center of Washington DC discussion with Khalil Jahshan, “What is the US Trying to Achieve in the Gaza War?”
Featuring: ACW Executive Director Khalil E. Jahshan discusses the US objectives in the Israeli war on Gaza and the attempts by Secretary Blinken to manage the conflict.
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoTuWYSmcjw
***
Link to film
Watch short film, “Nightmare of Gaza”
Featuring: Self released by Farah Nabulsi in 2017 this film provides an accessible, humanizing and deeply emotional perspective on the Palestinian experience in Gaza, especially for those less familiar with the current reality.
For more info: https://vimeo.com/376386012?share=copy
***
Link to video
Middle East Institute video, “US Diplomacy and the Israel-Hamas War: Policy Options and Preparing for the Day After”
For more info: https://www.mei.edu/events/us-diplomacy-and-israel-hamas-war-policy-options-and-preparing-day-after
***
Link for podcast
Israel Policy Podcast, “A New Phase and a Long War Ahead”
Featuring:
For more info: https://israelpolicyforum.org/2023/11/01/a-new-phase-and-a-long-war-ahead/
***
Link for podcast
Balfour Project KEYS podcast, latest episode “How to Become a Refugee”
Featuring:
For more info: https://balfourproject.org/keys/
***
Link for interview on YouTube
Al Jazeera Balkans interview with Nader Hashemi, Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8zMbYNrznQ
***
Link to article
“Listening to the Voices of Young People From Gaza”, article by Zeina Azzam about We Are Not Numbers
Featuring:
For more info: https://time.com/6330411/young-people-gaza-storytelling-essay/?fbclid=IwAR21QuYnZ3ACoITTE4mZmx3XIA9ojpEVBjw6g1YDEaKesa4fi5a7ZTXnZE0
***
Link to YouTube
“Salute to Gaza” from the Said Conservatory of Music in Jerusalem
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYSc2b1cZi0
***
Link to YouTube
Watch “Gideon Levy: The Zionist Tango…step right, step left”
Featuring: Prescient presentation and discussion by Israeli Haaretz journalist at WRMEA conference in 2018. (Cut and paste if this link doesn’t work directly…there is an underscore after JQS- and before 9K%-Dk)
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQS-_9K5-Dk
***
Link to YouTube
Arab Center of Washington DC discussion with Khalil Jahshan, “What is the US Trying to Achieve in the Gaza War?”
Featuring: ACW Executive Director Khalil E. Jahshan discusses the US objectives in the Israeli war on Gaza and the attempts by Secretary Blinken to manage the conflict.
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoTuWYSmcjw
***
Link to film
Watch short film, “Nightmare of Gaza”
Featuring: Self released by Farah Nabulsi in 2017 this film provides an accessible, humanizing and deeply emotional perspective on the Palestinian experience in Gaza, especially for those less familiar with the current reality.
For more info: https://vimeo.com/376386012?share=copy
***
Link to video
Middle East Institute video, “US Diplomacy and the Israel-Hamas War: Policy Options and Preparing for the Day After”
For more info: https://www.mei.edu/events/us-diplomacy-and-israel-hamas-war-policy-options-and-preparing-day-after
***
Link for podcast
Israel Policy Podcast, “A New Phase and a Long War Ahead”
For more info: https://israelpolicyforum.org/2023/11/01/a-new-phase-and-a-long-war-ahead/
***
Link for podcast
Balfour Project KEYS podcast, latest episode “How to Become a Refugee”
For more info: https://balfourproject.org/keys/
***
Link for interview on YouTube
Al Jazeera Balkans interview with Nader Hashemi, Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8zMbYNrznQ
***
Link to article
“Listening to the Voices of Young People From Gaza”, article by Zeina Azzam about We Are Not Numbers
For more info: https://time.com/6330411/young-people-gaza-storytelling-essay/?fbclid=IwAR21QuYnZ3ACoITTE4mZmx3XIA9ojpEVBjw6g1YDEaKesa4fi5a7ZTXnZE0
***
Link to YouTube
“Salute to Gaza” from the Said Conservatory of Music in Jerusalem
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYSc2b1cZi0
***
Link to YouTube
Watch “Gideon Levy: The Zionist Tango…step right, step left”
Featuring: Prescient presentation and discussion by Israeli Haaretz journalist at WRMEA conference in 2018. (Cut and paste if this link doesn’t work directly…there is an underscore after JQS- and before 9K%-Dk)
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQS-_9K5-Dk
***
Link for recordings and videos
Middle East Program at the Wilson Center, “Israel at War with Hamas: Regional Perspectives”
Featuring:
***
Link for podcast
Palestinian Deep Dive podcast, “Stop The Genocide”
Featuring: Former UN correspondent for Al Jazeera and speechwriter for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mark Seddon, is joined by Raz Segal, an Israeli historian and an Associate Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, where he is also an Endowed Professor in the study of Modern Genocide. Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arabic-British Understanding and Karim Ali, a Palestinian advocate and co-founder of the Gaza Sunbirds, Palestine's first para-cycling team.
For more info: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dDGVWhUePyj4dx0yvPedw
***
Link for information
Samidoun Calendar of Resistance for Palestine - Events and Actions around the world
Featuring:
For more info: https://samidoun.net/2023/10/calendar-of-resistance-for-palestine-events-and-actions-around-the-world/
***
Link to letter
Kairos USA offers letter, “A Call for Repentance: An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians”
Featuring:
***
Link for recording on Youtube
Video of Amira Hass presentation
Featuring: In this special event, co-sponsored by CCAS, Democracy for the Arab World Now, and the MENA Forum, ACMCU hosts guest speaker and award winning Haaretz journalist Amira Hass to talk about the current situation in Gaza and what could be next in the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Hamas.
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MSGYz334Nk
***
Link to Statement
Movement for Black Lives Statement Calls for Immediate End to US-Backed Occupation of Palestine
Featuring:
For more info: https://m4bl.org/statements/movement-for-black-lives-statement-on-us-backed-occupation-of-palestine/
***
Link to article
Palestinian Students Call to Students Around the Globe
Featuring:
For more info: https://bdsmovement.net/PalestinianStudents’UrgentCallToStudentsAroundTheGlobe
***
Link to article
Urgent Policy Brief from Palestinian Civil Society Networks
Featuring:
***
Link for information
Israel Policy Forum, “Israel at War Resource Hub”
Featuring:
For more info: https://israelpolicyforum.org/israel-at-war/
***
Link for podcast
Israel Policy Forum Podcast, “On the Ground, Amid the Pending Ground Invasion”
Featuring: On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. They discuss various issues impacting the multiple fronts of this conflict, including the Israeli hostages in Gaza, humanitarian aid for Gaza, Hamas’ history as a spoiler for efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace, violence in the West Bank, and Israelis’ resilience as the country responds to its greatest tragedy since the Holocaust.
For more info: https://israelpolicyforum.org/2023/10/25/on-the-ground-amid-the-pending-ground-invasion/
***
Link for recording
Palestine Deep Dive, “This is Genocide”, Discussion with Israeli Holocaust Scholar Raz Legal
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk2qXsJ7_IY
***
Link to petition
Petition: An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.change.org/p/an-open-letter-from-palestinian-christians-to-western-church-leaders-and-theologians
***
Link to film
Watch short film, “Nightmare of Gaza”
Featuring: Self released by Farah Nabulsi in 2017 this film provides an accessible, humanizing and deeply emotional perspective on the Palestinian experience in Gaza, especially for those less familiar with the current reality.
For more info: https://vimeo.com/376386012?share=copy
***
Foundation for Middle East Peace launches microsite tracking Palestine-Related Lawfare
Featuring: Lawfare seeks to exploit U.S. laws and courts to quash criticism and activism challenging Israeli policies, to delegitimize Palestinian organizations and the Palestinian cause, and to undermine and even criminalize support for and/or solidarity with the Palestinian people. FMEP President Lara Friedman has been researching and documenting lawfare efforts related to Israel-Palestine for years.
***
Link for recording on Youtube
Electronic Intifada webinar on current situation in Gaza
Featuring: Recording of presentation with Nora Barrows-Friedman, Ali Abunimah, Refaat Alareer and five guests discuss unfolding situation in Gaza.
For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcY2KlllgPo
***
Link for recording
Democracy Now with Historian Rashid Khalidi, “Israel should lift siege”
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.democracynow.org/2023/10/9/rashid_khalidi_palestine_israel_explosion
***
Link for recording
Democracy Now with Israeli Human Rights Leader Orly Noy, “Israel’s War on Palestinian after Hamas Attack”
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.democracynow.org/2023/10/9/israel_human_rights_lawyer_hamas_israel
***
Link to article
Read Mondoweiss, “Hamas offensive the result of Washington’s hostility to Palestinian rights”
Featuring:
For more info: https://mondoweiss.net/2023/10/hamas-offensive-the-result-of-washingtons-hostility-to-palestinian-rights/
***
Link to film
Mondoweiss documentary, "The Oslo Accords”
Featuring: Palestinians reflect on the past 30 years since the first Oslo Accords were signed and all the ways in which the agreement impacted their lives, pushing them even further away from achieving liberation and statehood.
***
Link for podcast
Israel Policy Forum Podcast, “Unimaginable Tragedy and Unfolding War: Israel Mourns and Mobilizes”
Featuring:
For more info: https://israelpolicyforum.org/2023/10/12/unimaginable-tragedy-and-unfolding-war-israel-mourns-and-mobilizes/
***
Link for recording
Listen to Canon Wadie Far, Congregational vicar of St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem, speak at St Anne’s Episcopal Church, Damascus
Featuring:
For more info: https://youtu.be/IuJF8iA-kTg?si=_GB2qKchTrC_cmyy
***
Middle East Books and More book list for understanding history of Gaza and US support for Israel
Featuring:
For more info: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGtxdZHmqXQQfqwGKWpqvdQLhxH
***
Museum of the Palestinian People, 1900 18th St NW, Washington DC 20009
Huna Al Quds: Palestinian art and culture in Jerusalem during the early 20th century
Featuring:
For more info: http://www.mpp-dc.org
***
Link for shop
Shop Palestine, online store run by MECA, aids Palestinian children and families, as well as Palestinian artists and craftspeople
Featuring:
For more info: https://www.shoppalestine.org/collections/all
***
Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon Recordings
Featuring: Panel discussions focusing on "Erasing Palestine from U.S. School Curricula", "The Truth: LOST AT SEA", "My Tree", "The First 54 Years: An Abreviated Manual for Military Occupation", “NAKBA 75: Remembering the Voices”, “Marketing the Israeli Occupation - Part 1”, “The Law and the Prophets”, “The Law and the Prophets”, "Til Kingdom Come", “Is Israel an Apartheid State”, "Come and See; Go and Tell", "BOYCOTT", "Skies Above Hebron", "How to Make a Revolution", "Journalism Under Occupation - In Memory of Shireen Abu Akleh", "Palestine Poster Project", "Art & Resistance", "Of Land and Bread", "Advocate", "Soldier on the Roof", "Gaza: Still Alive", "Christians in Palestine", "1948: Creation & Catastrophe", "Bethlehem Today", "Valentino's Ghost: Why We Hate Arabs", "Stitching Palestine", "Gaza Fights for Freedom", "Radiance of Resistance", "MAYOR", "On the Side of the Road", "Occupation of the American Mind", "We All Live in Gaza", "Next Generation's Perspectives on the Occupation: Three Student Films", "Detaining Dreams" and "OBAIDA", "Objector", "The Ruins of Lifta", “Roadmap to Apartheid”, “Rock the Boat: Anatomy of a non-violent action", “Naila and the Uprising”, “It’s What We Do”, and “Home Front: Portraits from Sheik Jarrah”.
For more info: https://www.voicesfromtheholyland.org/online-film-salon-videos/online-film-salon
***
Available on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon and Vimeo on Demand
“Boycott” now streaming worldwide
***
"Farha"
Featuring: Jordan's Academy Award entry available on Netflix. Inspired by a true story of a young girl's Nakba experience, the film, released on Netflix earlier this month, includes the depiction of atrocities committed by Israeli forces in1948. It has been condemned by the Israeli government. CNN gave it a positive write-up (https://cnn.it/3FV8en5).
For more info: Screen via Netflix
***
The Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question is live!
Featuring: If you subscribe to Netflix, watch it; invite friends to join you.
For more info: https://www.palquest.org/en/home
***
CMEP Action Alerts
Featuring: HR 3477 The Justice for Shireen Act July 2023 and HR 3103 The Palestinian Children and Families Act (McCollum bill)
For more info: https://cmep.salsalabs.org/July2023ActionAlertJusticeforShireenAct/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=8a090030-c9da-4e81-a05e-13fb4d55d180 and https://cmep.salsalabs.org/May2023McCollumbill/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=1937132c-9732-4c1d-84e7-21e6495f7f6c&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=c6ed9450-fdb7-4879-9875-c740fd6689ca
***
PALESTINE TOUR INFORMATION
as of March 17, 2023
Information compiled by Voices From the Holy Land.
Table of Contents
Scheduled Tours for 2023 ........................................................................................................................1 Tour Organizations..................................................................................................................................4 Virtual (Online) Tours..............................................................................................................................6 Handbooks, Maps, and Guides ................................................................................................................6
Scheduled Tours for 2023
|
RCA Immersion Tour of Palestine Nov. 5-18, 2023 This trip will be led by Rev. Joshua Vis, Ph.D., who serves as Church Engagement Facilitator in Israel and Palestine with RCA Global Mission. He stands alongside Palestinian and Israeli individuals and organizations who seek an end to the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, in a ministry of peace with justice. He leads immersion tours that include a deep dive into both the history and archaeology of the Bible and the history and current realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. https://www.rca.org/global-mission/missionaries/josh-sally-vis/ Register here: https://sforce.co/3y0mxDe For more information and to request flyer, contact Stephanie: ssoderstrom@rca.org |
|
Joint Advocacy Initiative Youth Journey for Justice - Palestine July 8-16, 2023 Youth, 17 - 30, from all over the world are invited to join the Journey for Justice in Palestine. https://www.jai-pal.org/en/advocacy-visits-trips/advocacy-programs-palestine/journey-for-justice |
1
|
9-Day Architectural Tour of Palestine (Siraj Tours) Oct. 6-15, 2023 Visiting: Nazareth, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron, Jerusalem. Tour covers Palestine's architectural heritage and “the architecture of the occupation.” It will be centred in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem but will also include a couple of days in Nazareth (a predominantly Palestinian city in Israel), where guided by a Palestinian architect we’ll visit the site of Palestinian villages destroyed in 1948 and explore the newly regenerated old city. Link to photos from previous tours: https://bit.ly/Palestine_snapshot Contact: karena.batstone@gmail.com |
|
Travel2Palestine Tours Encounter Palestine Tour May 28 – June 1, 2023 Aug.27 – 31st, 2023 Oct. 29th – Nov. 2, 2023 Palestinian Citizens of Israel Tour Nov. 5 – 9, 2023 We run small expert-led tours. Our mission is to educate and inform on the situation in Palestine and Israel, specifically on the impact on human rights. We have Palestinian and Israeli guides and UK organisers. We focus mainly on occupied Palestine, but also look at human rights of Palestinians living within Israel. We take you to refugee camps, settlements, checkpoints and villages under attack by settlers. You get top-level briefings from Palestinian and Israeli NGOs and from the United Nations. You meet politicians and experts and activists. The focus is very much on the occupation and the conflict, with only basic sightseeing (tour participants can stay on to do sightseeing on their own). https://travel2palestine.org/bookvisit/ Contact: Martin director@t2ptravel.com or Mary organiser@t2ptravel.com |
|
St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square and Christ Church, Georgetown Co-sponsored pilgrimage Sept. 29 - Oct. 11, 2023: The voyage will offer pilgrims the opportunity to visit many of the major sites of our faith. The group will be guided by Iyad Qumri, a Palestinian Christian who has been leading pilgrims through this special place for more than 25 years. For more info: https://www.iyadqumripilgrimages.com Sign up: https://stjohns-dc.org/contact-paulbarkett/ |
2
|
Holy Land Franciscan Pilgrimages 12 pilgrimages planned for 2023 When you travel with us, your pilgrimage benefits the Christians who live in the Holy Land in a couple of ways. First, you can support their livelihood because we’re able to direct you to Christian-owned businesses and restaurants. And secondly, any support to the Holy Land Friars supports the work they do in the Holy Land, work in providing education, healthcare, care for children and the elderly, and maintenance of the holy shrines themselves. https://holylandpilgrimages.org/upcoming-pilgrimages/ For more info: info@holylandpilgrimages.org |
|
“Living Stones” Tour of Palestine-Israel June 11-24, 2023 Featuring Dr. Michael Spath, founder of the Indiana Center for Middle East Peace https://indianacmep.org For more info: lmichaelspath@gmail.com |
|
Americans for Peace Now Dual-Narrative Tour of Israel, Palestine And Morocco March 2023 The tour will combine the traditional elements with new, exciting programming that takes advantage of MEJDI Tours' expertise. Meet Israeli and Palestinian elected leaders and other officials at the Knesset and in Ramallah, and Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan. For more info: kpaul@peacenow.org |
|
Community Peacemaker Team Delegation Visits to Palestine Nakba Day May 10-22, 2023 Multifaith Peacemaking Sept. 27 – Oct. 9, 2023 Olive Harvest Nov. 3-15, 2023 CPT sends short-term (7-14 day) peacemaker delegations into crisis settings around the world. These delegations link communities experiencing violence with individuals and groups. Delegations offer participants a first-hand experience of CPT’s on-the-ground experiment in non-violence. https://cpt.org/delegations/palestine |
3
Tour Organizations
Kairos Recommended trips to Israel/Palestine
https://www.kairosresponse.org/recommended_trips-1.html
Adventure tours
Abraham Palestine HeritageTrail
https://phtrail.org/trail/
Amos Trust Palestine Marathon
https://www.amostrust.org/amos-travel/run-palestine-2023/
Amos Trust Travel
https://www.amostrust.org/amos-travel/
Amos Trust
https://www.amostrust.org/amos-travel/experience-palestine-2023/
Bike Palestine
https://bikepalestine.com/
Siraj Center
https://sirajcenter.org/
Walk Palestine
https://www.walkpalestine.com/en
Human Rights/Factfinding Tours
Alternative Tourism Group
http://atg.ps/
Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (3-month stays, coordinated by the World Council of Churches)
https://www.quaker.org.uk/our-work/eappi
Eyewitness Palestine
https://eyewitnesspalestine.org/
The Palestine Committee (Norway)
https://palestinakomiteen.no/ [website is in Norwegian]
To Be There
https://tobe-there.com/
Travel2Palestine (UK)
https://travel2palestine.org/
UCC Palestine/Israel Network
https://www.uccpin.org/witness-trips
USPCR
https://uscpr.org/activist-resource/ethical-travel-to-palestine-challenging-apartheid-tourism/
4
Wi’am
https://www.alaslah.org/tours/
YMCA and YWCA
https://www.jai-pal.org/en/advocacy-visits-trips/advocacy-programs-palestine/journey-for-justice
Zaytoun (UK)
https://zaytoun.uk/visit-palestine/
Responsible Religious Pilgrimages
Center for Jewish Nonviolence
https://cjnv.org/
Churches for Middle East Peace
https://cmep.org/travel/
Community Peacemaker Teams
https://cpt.org/delegations
Footsteps of Jesus (Disciples of Christ)
http://www.footstepsofjesustour.org/
Friends of Sabeel Witness Trips)
https://www.fosna.org/come-see-visit-the-holy-land friends@fosna.org
Holy Land Franciscan Pilgrimages
info@holylandpilgrimages.org
Laila Tours & Travel (Bethlehem)
https://www.lailatours.com/
Lightline Pilgrimages (UK)
https://www.lightline.org.uk/
Living Stones (Holy Land Trust)
https://www.fosna.org/come-see-visit-the-holy-land
Living Stones Pilgrimages (Pilgrims of Ibillin)
https://www.pilgrimsofibillin.org
Living Stones Tours (United Methodists for Kairos Response)
https://www.kairosresponse.org/tours.html
McCabe Pilgrimages (UK)
https://www.mccabe-travel.co.uk/
Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East
https://neme.network/
Pilgrimage People (UK)
https://pilgrimagepeople.org/
RCA Immersion Tours of Israel-Palestine
https://www.rca.org/global-mission/missionaries/josh-sally-vis/
5
Tangney Tours (UK)
https://www.tangney-tours.com/
Tree of Life Journeys (First Congregational Church of Old Lyme)
https://tolef.org/
Virtual (Online) Tours
Green Olive Tours
https://greenolivetours.com/online-events/
Visit to Deir al Balah, Gaza (ANERA, video)
https://www.anera.org/blog/a-visit-to-deir-al-balah-gaza/
We Are Not Numbers (video shorts)
https://www.youtube.com/@wearenotnumbers2698
Handbooks, Maps, and Guides
“Palestine & Palestinians” Guidebook (ATG)
http://atg.ps/guidebook
Comprehensive information on Palestinian culture, history, archaeology, religion, architecture, and politics, along with practical information (transport, hotels, cafes, restaurants, museums, hiking routes, cultural centers, etc.) to travel responsibly.
Wujood “Existence/Presence” (Grassroots Jerusalem)
https://www.grassrootsalquds.net/wujood
Political tourist guide of Jerusalem, emphasizing the city’s unique attractions while drawing a picture of the realities of Palestinian Jerusalemite communities from a grassroots perspective. It invites visitors to take an active role in supporting Palestinian freedom by supporting the Palestinian economy or volunteering.
Interactive Map of Jerusalem (Grassroots Jerusalem)
https://www.grassrootsalquds.net/
Profiles the neighborhoods, history, stories, businesses, and local organizing of Palestinian Jerusalemites.
Palestine Open Maps (Visualizing Palestine and Columbia University Studio X Amman) https://palopenmaps.org/
An online interactive map of the geography of Palestine, including present-day Palestinian localities and the hundreds of destroyed Palestinian villages often erased from official government maps.
VisitPalestine.tech
https://visitpalestine.tech/
Itineraries, logistical support, and more for travelers interested in the Palestinian technology and startup sector.
Welcome to Palestine
https://www.welcometopalestine.com
A website offering comprehensive destination guides, broken down by city and village.
6
A Short Bibliography on
Israel & Palestine
This bibliography is meant as a starting point, a listing of books that some have found useful in seeking to better understand the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis
People at the birth of modern Israel, the human side of the story, a good starting place
Elias Chacour, Blood Brothers
Father Elias Chacour is a Catholic priest and the Archbishop of the Melkite Church in Israel. Born in a village in the Galilee, he and his family were expelled in 1948 as part of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist forces. Father Chacour has stayed in Israel, devoting himself to peace through the education of Palestinian children and working for reconciliation between Palestinians and Jews. This is the memoir of an extraordinary man
Tolan, Sandy, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East
The histories of two families, a Bulgarian Jewish family that barely escapes the Holocaust and a Palestinian family forced to flee their home during the establishment of the state of Israel, bound together in a house lived in and loved by both. Meticulous endnotes anchor the human narration firmly in the history and events of the time.
Historical works
Gershom Gorenberg, The Accidental Empire
An essential and well-written book. An Israeli journalist and historian, Gorenberg recaps Zionist History as the preamble to conditions that set up the Occupation of the Palestinian territories post-1967. He then tells the whole tragic story of fanaticism, political cowardice, and failed opportunities. A unique and courageous window into Israeli society and politics.
Ilan Pappe, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
Pappe is an Israeli historian. He is among a group of Jewish revisionist historians called the “New Historians” who have documented the actual actions of Zionist and then Israeli forces at the time of the founding of the State of Israel. This book relies greatly on material from Israeli military archives. It is often emotionally difficult to get through.
Allis & Ronald Rodash, A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel.
This book studies the politics and decision making process that led President Truman to support the founding of the modern state of Israel.
Avi Shlaim, The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World since 1948
Shlaim, Jewish revisionist historian and professor at Oxford, covers in detail relations between Israel and the Arabs from Israel's 1948 War of Independence to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In doing so, he shatters the “David vs. Goliath” view of the conflict so common among Israelis and the West. Criticized for being too simplistic in presenting Arab side of the conflict.
Jewish experience:
Alice Rothchild, Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience
Dr. Rothchild, a medical doctor who worked throughout the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem shares what she witnessed there and carefully describes how her views evolved because of what she saw.
Brant Rosen, Wrestling in the Daylight: A Rabbi’s Path to Palestinian Solidarity
Shocked by what he read about the 2008 Israeli military campaign in Gaza, American Rabbi Rosen began to publically question his long held "liberal Zionist" beliefs in his blog Shalom Rav.
Miko Peled. The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine
In 1997, a tragedy struck the family of Israeli-American Miko Peled: His beloved niece Smadar was killed by a suicide bomber. That tragedy propelled Peled onto a journey of discovery. It pushed him to re-examine many of the beliefs he had grown up with, as the son and grandson of leading figures in Israel’s political-military elite.
Other
Jimmy Carter, Peace Not Apartheid, and We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land
The former president reflects on the actions necessary to bring a true peace to a troubled region he knows well.
Mitri Raheb, I am a Palestinian Christian
Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, he conveys an “active hope” even through the long Israeli military occupation.
Phyllis Benni’, Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer
Helpful to those who want to know the basic story of the conflict. She provides a great deal of information in a very short book – unfiltered by ideological lenses. This is an excellent book for someone who wants a brief but thorough overview.
Rashid Khalidi, Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. has Undermined Peace in the Middle East
Dr. Khalidi has written a relatively short, readable and frankly depressing overview of the more than 35 years of U.S. diplomacy in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The noted Columbia University historian provides important empirical evidence and sobering analysis that shatters the mythology that the United States has a genuine desire for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Dr. Naim Ateek, Justice and only Justice: A Palestinian Theology of Liberation
This work sets the biblical foundation for Palestine’s liberation theology movement. Dr. Ateek is the Canon of St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem and founder of Sabeel, an ecumenical and international organization committed to shedding light on the occupation and providing a Christian nonviolent response to it
SELECTED DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Voices Across the Divide - 57 min. Filmmaker Alice Rothchild is an American Jew raised on the tragedies of the Holocaust and the dream of a Jewish homeland in Israel. The film follows her personal journey as she begins to understand the Palestinian narrative while exploring the Palestinian experience of loss, occupation, statelessness, and immigration to the US. The documentary is both a personal journey to understand the Palestinian narrative as well as the implications and contradictions of deeply held cultural beliefs in the Jewish community. Rothchild interviews those who participated in the Nakba – and those affected by it.
Budrus (2009) - 70 min. Budrus is an award-winning feature documentary film about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel’s Separation Barrier
Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land (2004) - 80 min. This video shows how the foreign policy interests of American political elites-working in combination with Israeli public relations stratgies-influence US news reporting about the Middle East conflict. Combining American and British TV news clips with observations of analysts, journalists and political activists, Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land provides a brief historical overview, a striking media comparison, and an examination of factors that have distorted U.S. media coverage and, in turn, American public opinion.
With God On Our Side (2010) - 82 min. With God On Our Side takes a hard look at the theology and politics of Christian Zionism, which teaches that because the Jews are God's chosen people, Israeli government policies should not be questioned, even when these policies are unjust.
Life in Occupied Palestine - 55 min. Anna Baltzer, a Jewish-American Columbia graduate and Fulbright scholar, presents her discoveries as a volunteer with the International Women's Peace Service in the West Bank, documenting human rights abuses and supporting Palestinian-led nonviolent resistance to the Occupation. Baltzer's presentation provides those interested in the Israel/ Palestine conflict with critical information and documentation that can be difficult to obtain through mainstream Western media sources, and to encourage dialog towards taking action on the issue. Topics discussed include checkpoints, settlements, Israeli activism, Zionism, 1948 War & refugees, censorship, the Wall, the ongoing annexation of Palestinian land, and the almost unbearable living conditions under the occupation.
Little Town of Bethlehem (2010) - 75 min. The documentary shares the gripping story of three men, born into violence, willing to risk everything to bring an end to violence in their lifetime. A Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew-shaped by events of their Palestinian and Israeli upbringing-find inspiration in the words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Sami, Ahmad, and Yonatan believe that violence can indeed be stopped but recognize their own struggles will remain. Yet they will struggle together to discover a common humanity through non-violent action. In the city of Bethlehem where it is said God became man, these men stand alongside others whose central desire is to be accepted and treated as fully human.Their story brings fresh hope to the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel while taking a stand against violence throughout the world.
The People and the Olive - 70 min. What do olive trees mean to Palestinian farmers? Olives are their livelihood, their source of sustenance and the way they root themselves, historically and spiritually, to the land. But Palestinians are denied access to nearly 30 percent of their beloved olive trees in the West Bank as they struggle to live under Israeli military occupation. How do they persevere? And what should the international community understand about Palestinian olive farmers, who love their land and harvest it every season to feed their families — just as farmers across the world do?
On the Side of the Road - 103 min. Filmmaker Lia Tarachansky is a Jew who was born in Kiev. When she was six her family moved to the Ariel settlement in the West Bank. Her mother wanted to contribute to Zionism, Lia said. Tarachansky turns the camera on herself as she revisits settlements and interviews current residents. She says her goal is just to examine and narrate.
Occupation Has No Future - 84 min. Through conversations with Israeli conscientious objectors, former soldiers, and Palestinians living under occupation, Occupation Has No Future creates a survey of the current atmosphere in Israel and the West Bank. The film explores the Israeli social environment that creates heightened militarism and leads to fear and aggression; and examines the consequences of Israeli policies for the Palestinian people as well as for Israeli civil society. Additionally, this documentary looks at the Israeli anti-militarist movement and Israeli youth refusing conscription, refusing orders, and partnering with a growing grassroots Palestinian campaign of civil disobedience against the occupation
Checkpoint - 80 min. Documentary filmmaker Yoav Shamir's depiction of the checkpoints that the Israel Defense Forces man in the Palestinian Authority.
Defamation (2009) - 101 min. Intent on shaking up the ultimate 'sacred cow' for Jews, Israeli director Yoav Shamir embarks on a provocative - and at times irreverent - quest to answer the question, "What is anti-Semitism today?"
Encounter Point - 85 min. Film follows a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother who risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict. Their journeys lead them to the unlikeliest places to confront hatred within their communities. The film explores what drives them and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for grassroots solutions
Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority - 90 min. A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and U.S. political involvement.
Five Broken Cameras - 90 min. When his fourth son, Gibreel, is born, Emad, a Palestinian villager, gets his first camera. In his village, Bil'in, a separation barrier is being built and the villagers start to resist this decision. For more than five years, Emad films the struggle, which is led by two of his best friends, alongside filming how Gibreel grows. Very soon it affects his family and his own life. Daily arrests and night raids scare his family; his friends, brothers and himself are either shot or arrested. One Camera after another is shot at or smashed, each camera tells a part of his story.
Living under the Occupation: Daily Life in Occupied Palestine - 27 min. A film made by EFA MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) François Alfonsi, Jill Evans and Ana Miranda during their visit to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Promises (2002) -106 min. Several Jewish and Palestinian children are followed for three years and put in touch with each other, in this alternative look at the Jewish-Palestinian conflict. The three filmmakers followed a group of seven local children between 1995 and 1998. These seven children tell their own story about growing up in Jerusalem. When the protagonists speak out in an epilogue a couple of years later, it becomes apparent that all have lost their childlike innocence.
Salt of the Earth: Palestinian Christians in the Northern West Bank (2004) - 193 min. Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders lived in the Christian Palestinian village of Zababdeh from August, 2000, through December, 2003. Volunteers with the Presbyterian Church (USA), their ministry was one of ecumenical support to the Church in the land of its birth. The film documents the lives of nine Palestinian Christians living in the northern West Bank. This film grew out of a desire among their Palestinian neighbors to share their stories, and a desire among Christians in the West to hear them. The Sanders describe the project as "a labor of love, a response to the graciousness, warmth, hospitality, and welcome we received from our Palestinian neighbors and colleagues."
The Colour of Olives - 97 min. Like many Palestinian families, the Amers live surrounded by the infamous West Bank Wall where their daily lives are dominated by electrified fences, locks and a constant swarm of armed soldiers. Constructed with a combination of verité scenes and re-enactments, this poignant and richly crafted film offers its audience a much needed opportunity to reflect on the effects of racial segregation, the meaning of borders and the absurdity of war.
The Gatekeepers - 101 min. A documentary featuring interviews with all surviving former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency whose activities and membership are closely held state secrets
The Law In These Parts (2013) - 105 min. What is legal and what is just? The wide gap between the two is explored meticulously by this Israeli investigation of the legal structure created after the 1967 Six Days War, specifically to treat the West Bank and Gaza Strip as occupied territories. Speaking with some of Israel’s most respected lawyers and judges – men who helped to craft and later interpret these laws – filmmaker Ra’anan Alexandrowicz asks tough, pointed questions and gets even tougher answers. He asks his subjects to consider the consequences of their actions in a highly politicized environment. This documentary takes the position that unjust laws create unjust realities. Laws that everyone admits are not perfect but are the best that can be done under difficult circumstances may result in tragedy for everyone: both the judges and the judged.This film is winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Sundance and Jerusalem Film Festivals.
It's Better to Jump - 75 min. There is a centuries-old seawall in the ancient port of Akka, located on Israel's northern coast. Today, Akka is a modern city inhabited by Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Baha'i, but its history goes all the way back to rule of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Young people dare to stand atop the 40' one-meter thick block structure and risk their fate by jumping into the roiling sea. This perilous tradition has continued for many generations, and has become a rite of passage for the children of Akka. "It's Better to Jump" is about the ancient walled city of Akka as it undergoes harsh economic pressures and vast social change. The film focuses on the aspirations and concerns of the Palestinian inhabitants who call the Old City home.
Home Front – Portraits From Sheikh Jarrah - Getting beyond the sensational headlines and broad generalizations that normally dominate discussions of Jerusalem, Home Front captures voices rarely heard, of those struggling to stop settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and build a future of pluralism and equality in the city. Featuring the accounts of a Palestinian teenager forced to give up half his home to Israeli settlers, an American-born Israeli mother who gets drawn into the demonstrations after her children’s arrest, a Palestinian community organizer who brings local women to the forefront of the struggle, and a veteran of the Israeli army who becomes one of the campaign’s leaders, Home Front chronicles the resolve of a neighborhood, and the support it receives from the most unexpected of places.
Censored Voices - The 1967 'Six-Day' war ended with Israel's decisive victory; conquering Jerusalem, Gaza, Sinai and the West Bank. It is a war portrayed, to this day, as a righteous undertaking - a radiant emblem of Jewish pride. One week after the war, a group of young kibbutzniks, led by renowned author Amos Oz, recorded intimate conversations with soldiers returning from the battlefield. The recording revealed an honest look at the moment Israel turned from David to Goliath. The Israeli army censored the recordings, allowing the kibbutzniks to publish only a fragment of the conversations. 'Censored Voices' reveals the original recordings for the first time.
Teaching Ignorance - 2015, 52 Minutes. This powerful film follows several Israeli and Palestinian teachers over the course of an academic year. It asks: How do the Palestinian, Israeli Arab, and Israeli Jewish educational systems teach the history of their peoples? By observing teachers, the film shows us their exchanges and confrontations with students as they transmit the values of religion, politics, and nationalism in the classroom. In Teaching Ignorance, educators from all sides of the conflict debate their peoples’ official curriculum, wrestling with is restrictions. This film offers an intimate glimpse into the profound and long-lasting effect that the Israeli/Palestinian conflict transmits to the next generation.