Folks, here is the link to watching Pilger's video on the Youtube so that you can watch the rest.
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About Me
- Muqtedar Khan
- Dr. Muqtedar Khan is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware.
22 comments:
This poignant and disturbing view of daily life in the occupied territories was difficult to watch.
Observing the Israeli soldiers using stones and a hammer to break the shoulder and arms of two detained Palestinians was gruesome. Listening to stories of pregnant women being denied access to a hospital was outrageous as was the account of the female ambulance driver whose experiences with maimed or murdered Palestinians turned her into a suicide bomber. This humiliation, cruelty, inhumane treatment of Palestinians is a disgrace and a shame on the soul of Israel
Ken Adams
I really liked the juxtaposition of Palestinian and Israeli speakers in this film because it seemed one was almost hearing a debate between the different interviewees. It was good to hear first-hand accounts from both sides of the conflict.
There were several particularly interesting segments of this powerful film.
First, the man who lost his daughter to a suicide bomber had such strength and compassion, looking to the root causes of his daughter's death, wondering why suicide bombing occurred, and wondering if he contributed to the despair that prompted this severe action. Professor Khan mentioned several examples in class of people who were able to look past their anger and start thinking about why these atrocious events came to pass.This man's attitude amazed me, and though it does not seem like everyone could be so enlightened in the shadow of tragedy, it certainly shows increased understanding between sides, even if just on the individual level.
Second, the images of the Israeli settlements surrounded by high walls, and the roads blocked off for hours for only a few Israeli travelers was so disturbing. All the "autonomy of a prison camp," seems an almost fitting description for the hoops the Palestinians had to jump through to go anywhere. The contrast in socioeconomic status between the settlers and the local Palestinians was also startling.
Third, I found the dialogue on terrorism between the Advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister and John Pilger very intersting. Here is a link to an article on the Israeli sniper and the older woman that I believe John Pilger is citing http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,678042,00.html.
I found it interesting that rather than trying to excuse the soldiers actions by saying it was a mistake, a rare accident, etc... he just outright denied the story. The fact that he stated we must "remove the scourge of the earth," in order to end terrorism, to me seemed a simplified 'solution'(final solution? SCARY!)to the terrorism problem. This response to terrorism discussed does not target the roots of the problem, and will not stop new people from joining.
Finally, I found the scene towards the end that portrayed a bombed out Bethlehem very sad. I could be wrong but I don't imagine this is what G-d had in mind for the Promised Land.
“Palestine is Still the Issue” is a documentary that I really appreciated. Living in America, it is rare to see media that show the atrocious crimes being committed against the Palestinian civilians. Censorship that exists in American media will show clips that portray Palestinians as terrorists but will never show an Israeli soldier hurting so much as a fly. Admittedly, learning of the degree of censorship made me feel deceived.
I really appreciated how the documentary had a Palestinian tell a story and then had an Israeli confirm it, while providing at times two different perspectives on the event and at times the same perspective on the event.
This film illustrates the atrocities and horrific conditions that characterize life for Palestinians in the occupied territories. They have no rights or freedoms, no access to ambulances and in some cases water, and every detail of their lives is controlled by Israel. I was disturbed by the electrified barbed-wire fence that cages the people of Gaza in like a prison camp. The fact that this oppression has been allowed to go on by the international community for all these years is unbelievable. I was also extremely saddened by seeing what the soldiers to do the people and how they are treated, and the way the world has abandoned the Palestinian struggle.
I thought the analysis of suicide bombings was very interesting because Israel and the U.S. need to asses the psychological and physical terror that is being imposed on these people every day that drives them to commit such an extreme means of resistance to get their voices heard and their cause acknowledged. They are struggling to be helped, and the overall problem can't be solved until this is understood.
I feel that the United States' undying allegiance to Israel has allowed the attacks and human rights violations on Palestinians to continue, and the movie does a good job of showing exactly what the implications of American policies are.
The video explains how the Palestinians are portrayed as using terrorist tactics while Israelis are shown to be the victims. The video continues to explain Israel's history in committing acts of terrorism against Palestine. It is explained that no country has the right to inflict such terrorism, but that is what Israel has been doing. Terrorism is explained to be the deliberate attacks on the civilian population. An advocate for Israel says Israel only attacks Palestinian militants and unfortunately in any warfare there are civilian casualties that occur. The first direct talks between Israel and Palestine took place in 1991 and looked promising to put peace in the region. Though, disagreements came about when the division of land was scrutinized. Israelis were building on Palestinians land and patrolling this land with military personnel.
Most the children in the Gaza region are traumatized by the attacks Israel imposes. Most families in Gaza have lost someone due to the violence. Israel’s stance is that once Palestinians stop the violence against Israelis that is when peace will come to the region says the senior advisor to Israel’s Prime Minister. Western countries were afraid to be label anti-Semitic if they criticized how Israel was dealing with the situation. Palestinians are afraid that Israel will take over all of Palestine. An Arch Bishop asked have the Jewish people forgotten how they were treated just two generations ago. Now they impose similar acts on Palestinians.
John Pilger's Film, “Palestine is still the Issue” shows a side of Israel most people of the general public do not know about. I did not realize how cruel Israel was. Three former Israeli Prime Ministers took part in campaign of terror. It makes one think if Israel wants peace with Palestinians. Israeli officials call what they do to Palestinians “counter terrorism.” The adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister says that terrorism is targeting civilians. He acknowledges that Israel sometimes hits Palestinians, but it is by accident. It seems they have many accidents. In the 2000 peace meetings at Camp David, Israel was in control of the negotiations. They were willing to give Palestine what they really wanted, even after Palestine made an extreme offer to give Israel more land. Palestine only controls 10% of their own land. What is happening right now will make younger generation turn to violence. It was interesting when a psychiatrist asked some students to draw what is on their mind and many drew what was happening around them. This shows the youth are aware of what is going and will develop a hatred towards Israel if nothing changes.
Pilger also talks about Israel using the holocaust memory to not allow criticism. If someone criticizes Israel and its policies, they are charged as being Ani-Semitic. This shows that Israel is very arrogant and believes what they are doing in the Middle East is perfectly. However, the way they treat Palestinians can be compared to how they were treated during World War II. They forced Palestinians out of their land and terrorize them by keeping check points on the land they inhabit.
Pilger also believes that Israelis will never have peace until Palestinians have same rights, same peace and independence Israelis enjoy. I think many people agree with him, but do not express this view publicly. How can there be peace if Palestinians are not their own sovereign country? Most of their land is Israel territory. They are not able to travel without Israeli soldiers being far behind. This documentary opened my eyes about the oppression the Palestinian suffer. If only our government was not pro-Israel.
Watching John Pilger’s documentary “Palestine is still the issue” was both eye-opening and humiliating. As educated adults, we know that the United States refuses to recognize the miserable state of the Palestinian people, and does all in its power to shift focus to Israel and its own tragedies. But seeing reports by those who ARE brave enough to recognize the true situation – and through them, seeing stories of the true victims of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – makes one realize how atrocious this international denial truly is. Pilger realizes that he is peddling his film to an unreceptive audience: hence the title, which reiterates that yes, Palestine is still the issue. It is an extremely poignant documentary that eschews the grand news-making events that take up most media time, and instead focuses on the day-to-day difficulties of average Palestinians. It is the little inconveniences, the habitual jeers and taunts, and the minor manifestations of a greater disrespect that he highlights. For example, Pilger visits a cultural center that was destroyed by Israeli soldiers. The audience is horrified enough by this seemingly unjustified attack, but Pilger is interested in more than a simple example of violent destruction. He points out that the soldiers smeared human feces all over the office equipment, the walls, and the furniture. They trampled paintings and pictures done by children at the center. They burned and shredded all the files and documents so that there would be no hope of salvaging any of the information. More than anything, Pilger wants his audience to recognize and understand the fundamental lack of respect that the Israelis have for the Palestinian people.
Pilger explains how this lack of respect extends to the international arena as well. Resting safely under the wing of its friend and ally, the United States, Israel feels free to disregard the rest of the world. It continues building fortified settlements, in spite of their having been declared illegal by the UN. It continues to build the dividing wall, in spite of the fact that it separates thousands of Palestinians from work, friends and family. It continues to occupy Palestinian land while refusing to offer them equal rights, in spite of accusations of apartheid and racism. And why shouldn’t it? As long as it has friends in the right places, all the John Pilgers in the world will find it nearly impossible to make this rogue state respect the rights and freedoms of others.
The true condition of Palestinians under the Israeli occupation is revealed in the film.
The high living standard Israeli settlers enjoy adjacent to a number of Palestinians
who are in poverty with no hope irritates me. Palestinians are demanded to be always cautious
and prepared to Israeli attacks, making them mentally exhausted everyday. What Israeli is doing is to confine Palestinians in the ghetto, trying to eliminate them and encroach on the land of them little by little.
The saddest victims of this tragedy are obviously children. It is almost impossible to educate them without hatred toward Israel since most of families there have lost someone as a result of suicide bombings or Israeli attacks.
Many Americans who watched this may be surprised by the degree of media censorship in the U.S., but the condition in which Palestinians are struggling is like something in another world for the many of Japanese, especially those who do not read English, sad to say.
The claim by the Senior adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister is like a reason of a quarrel between brothers saying " He hits me first, so I hit him." or "If he quits to hit me, I will not hit him." I found no difference between terrorism and counter-terrorism.
John Pilger’s documentary Palestine: Is Still The Issue is an extremely well done piece that should raise more than a few thoughts from anyone that watches it. To the majority of people, Israel is seen through the prism of the Holocaust, meaning that they have this aura of vulnerability and innocence. Reality though, is not so kind to the Israelis, some of their policies towards the Palestinians are questionable to say the least, as John Pilger points out.
In the film, starting with the Palestinian Cultural Ministry where the Israeli soldiers not only destroyed much of the building, they also defaced the building with human feces. To the discussions about settlement life where we hear how much the Palestinians suffer to allow the Israeli’s a sense of normalcy. There is also a thought-provoking interview between Pilger and an Advisor to the Israeli Prime Minster where they discuss Palestinian terrorism and Israel’s counter-terrorism tactics with some of the Israeli Advisor’s responses not seeming all that well thought out.
Pilger’s documentary is a valiant attempt at trying to show the world that Israel needs to be viewed critically. It is important to keep in mind that Pilger does not completely vilify Israel; he makes mention that there are Israeli’s who have a conscience and see that their treatment of the Palestinians is wrong, and could very well be considered criminal.
John Pilger has made a nice piece of propaganda. Certainly not all propaganda is false or bad, but Pilger does focus on one point of view in order to buttress a
particular argument, in much the same way as Michael Moore does in his films.
Pilger begins by touring the ravaged Palestinian culture ministry building to show Israel’s wanton destruction and disregard for Palestinian attempts to
preserve and pass on their culture to future generations. Then he interviews several Palestinians whose daily lives have been disrupted by Israel’s military
and he has them explain that they cannot plan at all for the future, or even for the next day.
To buttress his argument further, he presents views of a building that has been reduced to rubble as evidence of Israel’s intent to destroy whatever Palestinians
may have built, but never gives a panorama of the entire city to show the extent of the total damage. He travels a road near the Gaza border to show how
Palestinians are caged behind barriers like animals in a zoo, along with an Israeli who argues that it’s better for them this way. Finally, he speaks with an
American-born advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel who flatly denies an incident in which an old woman had been deliberately shot as she made her way along the street.
But Pilger never interviews Israeli soldiers. He never explores their motives, nor
does he ask whether members of their own families might have been killed in suicide bombings. He doesn’t ask what cultural edifices in Israel may have been targeted by Palestinians. Nor does he ask the opinions of Israelis whose daily lives are disrupted by the fear of a hidden bomb as they
shop or go about their business.
And so his viewers are left wondering.
It’s true that we don’t see this side of the occupation in the U.S., and we certainly should see it. Still, I wonder if Pilger’s film doesn’t serve the purpose
of dehumanizing the average Israeli, just as Israeli depictions of Palestinians
attempt to dehumanize them. He does speak with an Israeli father whose daughter was killed by a suicide bomber and who wonders what he personally may have done to inspire so much hatred. But this man seems to be not
representative of the average Israeli. I suspect he may be more typical than Pilger imagines.
John Pilger’s documentary Palestine is Still the Issue presents some interesting points about the oppression the Palestinians suffer but he does so at the expense of even handed reporting.
It is definitely eye opening to see video footage of Israeli soldiers beating Palestinians at checkpoints and to hear stories of atrocities such as babies dying before reaching a hospital. The barbed wire surrounding Palestinian areas does make it look more like a jail than a home, and I agree that things need to be changed in Israel to make it so that Palestinians can at least live like human beings and not like second class beings. I think that it is important for us as Americans interested in this conflict to see this disturbing side of the occupation, as this is certainly not what is portrayed in the American media.
It is necessary however to take into consideration the fact that the Israelis are always nervous about the ever present possibility of terror by the Palestinians. Suicide bombers are not just scary looking men; they are men that look like any other and also women. So how do the Israelis go about weeding out which Palestinians are bad and which are ok? They take these extreme measures as precautions. As Pilger does well to point out, they may take it a little too far, but it is the only way they can think of to hinder terror and violence in their country for the time being. Mary makes a great point when she mentions that Pilger does not ask the opinions of the average Israeli whose lives are disrupted by the fear of a bomb going off at any second. When Palestinians resort to terror, they do not just pick out IDF soldiers or government officials. They blow up buses, malls, restaurants, schools- anywhere that can achieve maximum damage and body counts, even when those bodies are innocent children and civilians.
I was surprised by the interview Pilger has with the Israeli father who lost a young daughter to a suicide bomber. To deal with his loss this father tries to look into the mindset of someone who would commit such a dead and understand what could drive someone to kill themselves and others. By trying to determine the psyche of a suicide bomber he comes to the conclusion that anyone who would be driven to the act of suicide bombing is a victim the same as his daughter was. I do not believe that most parents in Israel who have lost a child to suicide bombings would agree with him, but I give him credit for finding closure by trying to understand the other side. Maybe he has something here. If more people could try and understand WHY Palestinians act like they do, maybe the cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians could finally come to an end.
John Pilger’s film “Palestine is Still the Issue” helped me realize the
“other” side of the story. As a young American with no direct ties to the region, I could only make my own opinions about the conflict based on what I saw in movies and on television. The media and my own country just made me believe that the Palestinians were the enemy and the Israelis were the innocent victims. However, this movie showed the daily struggles that Palestinians go through living in occupied territories.
One very captivating piece in the film was about the man who lost her daughter in a suicide bombing. He wanted to find out the real reason why these sorts of things happened. That made me start to think, there is probably a bigger underlying reason why people resort to suicide bombings. Although it is a terrible thing and something that should never be condoned, this movie opened my eyes as to why people end up taking their lives in this manner.
Another very disturbing part of the movie was the way that the Israeli soldiers treated the Palestinians. In one scene, they would not let a pregnant woman get to a hospital to deliver her baby, which she ended up delivering in her house. The baby died hours later because the family could not get the necessary medical care. The movie also showed Israeli soldiers using rocks to break the arms of Palestinians. The fact that trained military personnel would impose this type of violence upon people and refuse to let a woman go to the hospital is just inexcusable. Something must be done to stop this from happening.
-Robert Castellanos
In the film "Palestine Is Still the Issue," Pilger draws attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people, a subject very often ignored by the Western media. In the Western media, the Palestinians are portrayed as aggressors and terrorists, not victims. In reality, the Palestinians are a beleaguered and oppressed people, who continually harassed and humiliated by the disproportionate military power of Israel.
Pilger's interviews of Palestinians and Israelis alike are poignant, though in some instances unnecessarily heavy handed. In the interviews with Palestinians, Pilger pounds at the point that the Palestinians are a people without dignity and basic rights. Pilger gives numerous examples: the checkpoints, the bombings, the soldiers defilement of the Palestinian ministry of culture. Though Pilger belabors this point, he does so to demonstrate the futility and constant state of anxiety that plagues Palestinians every day of their lives.
I also commend Pilger on the interviews with Israelis. Rather than painting the Israelis with a broad brush, Pilger interviewed Israelis with differing opinions on the occupation of the Palestinian territories. He interviewed the more right wing elements, including an IDF soldier, Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and a special adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel, who described the Palestinians as "the scourge of the Earth." Pilger also interviewed pro-peace Israelis, including a man whose daughter died in a suicide attack, a refusenik soldiers, and Ilan Pappe, who all questions the policies of the Israeli government.
The most stirring portion of the documentary was violence incurred on the Palestinians by the Israelis, who are always seen as the victims. The Israelis have killed thousands of civilians, including terrorist attacks by future Prime Ministers Menachem Begin, Yitzak Shamir and Ariel Sharon. The special adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel made the distinction that IDF attacks are counter terrorism not terrorism, yet the outcome is very similar. Also, the US and UK were complicit in these attacks, funding the Israeli war machine with money and weapons.
Pilger brings all of this to light for an ignorant Western audience, however we must address the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Collin Odell
John Pilgers, Palestine is still the issue takes an in-depth look at wrong doing done to the Palestinian people from harsh treatments at checkpoints, illegal Israeli settlements, symbol of occupation, the wall and state terrorism. He looks at the Israeli’s that do not agree with Israel’s harsh rule over the Palestinians, called refusniks and explores extremism by way of suicide bombings. This was obviously a biased view of Palestine making out Israel to be the bad guy. But wait, after seeing the footage presented in this documentary, the destruction of Palestinian neighborhoods, breaking arms of stone throwers, harassment at checkpoints and a walled up occupation of a people whose basic human rights are violated. Hmm it does seem that Israel is the bad guy and that although terror attacks are the cause of all this destruction and oppression, it seems it merely is an excuse to get rid of them and not find peaceful solutions, after all suicide bombings were not around until the 90’s.
Perhaps this side of the issue focusing on the destruction of a people is justified in not being balanced, perhaps it is what main stream media does not report on and this story too shall be told. The first female suicide bomber a martyr to the people was an ambulance driver, who had witnessed the atrocities that took place, was the reason she had taken this action because of what she saw. What about checkpoints where woman gave birth at the checkpoint because they could not pass through and in some cases died or sick people who were denied ambulances for sick and wounded for the sake of protecting Israel’s security.
What about state terrorism as mentioned many times before as Ariel Sharon was known to hit hard with an iron fist and he did so committing murderous acts personally and indirectly responsible for the lives of 800 Palestinian civilian deaths. If anyone were to have a dissenting point of view, they simply would be called anti Semitic. How will there be peace building if the wall infringes on the 1967 green line UN res 242, the continuing building of settlements, checkpoints, no negotiations on Jerusalem. A people walled up and oppressed suffering from lack of human need for goods and services that cannot get through checkpoints or livelihoods faltered because people can get through checkpoints. They are living in what seems large prison with unfair advantage of having no real military where balance of power seemingly lay in Israel’s hands.
There are those Israelis that do not believe in military onslaught of Palestine neighborhoods and civilians and these people are called the refusniks. They refuse to serve in the part of the military that goes in to Palestinian neighborhoods. One example of an Israeli father whose daughter was killed by a suicide bomber, although tragically saddened by the loss of his loved one, he too sees that in order for all of this to stop peace must be made, after all what does an eleven year old have to do with this? There does not seem to be any light at the end of this political tunnel so when will there be? As long as Hamas runs the show for the Palestinian people who are seen as a terrorist organization by The U.S and Israel and do not see Israel’s right to exist, the Palestinians are going to continue to have a hard time until leadership is restored to them that can provide a platform again for peace talks, perhaps later things will be different
John Pilger’s film excellently depicts the horrid circumstances which Palestinians have to put up with due to Israeli settlements. The Israelis have violated Palestinian sovereignty over and over again and are now trying to police Palestine. While doing so, the Israeli soldiers have made sure that the Palestinians have been stripped of their human rights. Even going beyond this, Israeli soldiers have made it a point to have Palestinians humiliated and scared for their lives as they are put through perpetual maltreatment by patrolling IDF soldiers.
My eyes were opened when I witnessed one of the most disturbing and cruel imagines that I had ever seen in my life. In the film, I saw Israeli soldiers attack and beat a man with rocks. They purposely extended his arms and shoulders with the intent of breaking these bones with rocks, something which they accomplished. What troubled me even more was to see innocent Palestinians essentially caged like wild animals in Gaza by barbed wire fences. It seems that in every movie review that I always wonder how such horrible acts can be committed against innocent people. Sometimes I thought that the videos which I watched were biased; however, after watching a series of documentaries, I am sad to say that there is a mini-holocaust going on in Palestine.
The Israeli soldiers, directed by their government, have been determined to shatter any progression made in Palestine. In the documentary, I saw that this was the case when Israeli soldiers ransacked the Palestinian Ministry of Education. They leveled walls within the building, destroyed all of the computers, and completely disrespected the Palestinian people by rubbing their own feces on the walls of the building. It troubles me very much to see that after weathering a genocidal movement in WW2 that the Israelis have began to push their own genocidal agenda on the innocent civilians of Palestine.
What troubles me even more is that in WW2, the United States was firmly committed to ending the Nazi’s campaign; however now the United States is Israel’s number one supplier of military arms. These weapons are being used in Israeli’s mini-holocaust on Palestine. The massacring of Palestinians by Israelis is heavily known on the international stage and the US continues to supply Israel with weapons. Could it be that our US government supports this version of genocide? I sure hope not, but it appears to be true.
The movie "Palestine is still the issue" is a direct and poignant look into the treatment of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government and military. We consistently see a self-imposed roadblock to peace by both sides when they make any attempts at peace (Although Israel is much more egregious with their violations and they hold significantly more sway over the actual outcomes than do the various Palestinian factions) which leads to individuals who are completely unable to admit any wrong doing in their actions.
The conversation with the Israeli terrorism adviser was particularly chilling due to his refusal to even believe that Israel could be at fault for something so heinous as ordering a sniper to kill an elderly woman on her way to chemotherapy treatment. When sides in a comflict work in such absolute terms eventually the cognitive dissonance has to reach a massive level where even after hearing about an incident they have to either deny it even happened or simply excuse it away. The actions by many in the movie were a sad indictment of the "My side can do no wrong" mindset that is a constant wound upon the peace process in the middle east. Although I found some of the narrators prodding to be a bit heavy handed he was largely on the mark and made a lot of accurate points that are sadly missing from the journalistic practices of American media and reporters.
This movie accurately portrays the hostility that each side receives in the Arab-Israeli conflict. It sheds light on how devastating the war is on the Palestinian people who have so little to begin with. illustrates how violent Israeli attacks on Palestinians can be. However, the film does little to provide ideas for a peaceful resolution. If the purpose of this film was to show the destructive nature of the Israeli army, it was successful. However it appears to be placing blame rather than calling for peace.
It is very important that people all over the world are aware of the cruel treatment of the Palestinians. However, much like other films on the subject, it shows it's bias from the very beginning as being ant-Israel and anti-occupation. Pilger interviews the adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, Dori Gold on the issue of Israeli terrorism. While it is shocking that he would use language such as, "We have to remove this scurge from the earth" it should not be surprising at all. Mr gold has an agenda that he has to push while answering any of the questions. The most significant interviews are those of civilians who have no agenda accept for that they want to live in peace. It's there that you see Arabs and Israeli's calling for peace in any way they can.
This film made it more apparent that while Israel wants peace, it has no fear of the Palestinian people. This concept is basic in foreign relations. If the more powerful country has nothing to fear of it's opponent, than it will not work hard for peace. Peace will come from concession, and concession results from one side losing. Israel has no obvious reason to concede and will not. If John Pilger wanted to make a meaningful documentary he would attempt to find those who wanted peace and make their voices heard and respected.
For the sake of the Palestinian people, some things need to be understood as "givens" that will not change. Instead of understanding these givens and working around them, we waste time being repeatedly surprised by the Israeli government. Why are we surprised they conduct themselves the way they do, when the United States would probably do the same. Unfortunately blaming Israel and calling them murderers and terrorists simply will not achieve results. Somebody must figure out how to make a nation concede, who has virtually no reason to do so. There must be some sort of outside factor that will make Israel think twice about conducting violent campaigns against Palestinians. As this film made clear, If the Palestinians want to fight it out, Israel is happy to do so.
After watching the film, I am left in shock and dismay. Seeing the realities of what the Palestinian people are faced with on a daily basis has driven me from a point that I can not return to: a point of ignorance. Actually seeing the destruction and hearing the horror stories told from the Palestinian people is heartbreaking and I am glad that John Pilger has worked to accurately depict the truths that are hidden beneath the political rhetoric spouted by Israelis and the West. I believe the film provided invaluable knowledge and clearly labeled the core issue at stake in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Palestine. Essentially, the occupation of Palestine must end now if the Israelis ever want to live in peace. Both are entitled to the same peace which has no potential to be achieved so long as the towering Israeli settlements oversee the Palestinian wastelands below. Although the entire film was an eye-opener, a few aspects have left me in a state of disbelief.
For starters, the United States’ zealous and undying support for Israel is sickening. Knowing what we do and having unfettered access to relations amongst the Palestinians and the Israelis, the United States continues to be pro-Israel. Even more incomprehensible is America’s attempt to fight a so-called war against terrorism when we are funding Israeli terrorism against the Palestinians.
This leads me to Dori Gold, Senior Advisor to the Israeli Prime Minister, who says he wants a global commitment of all free democracies in the world to eliminate the threat of terror. The problem with that is the free democracies of the world lack a proper understanding of why the terror is occurring in the first place. The fact that acts labeled as terrorism are committed against not only the free world, but oppressive regimes, says something about those who are committing the acts. Leaders in Israel and the United States can not just assume insane people are doing insane things without reason. Teaming up with free democracies is unlikely to produce the change that desperate people want to see in order for them to refrain from taking desperate measures. Thus far, the problem has been exacerbated.
Also, I was surprised to learn about the phenomenal differences existing in the language used by those who defend the Israeli government and those who want to expose it. The word “incursion” replacing “terrorist attack” in order to justify Israeli attacks on Palestinians is an example of this malarkey. Words and phrases can be foreign to a reader or listener, but when translated, they should essentially have the same connotation. The “Israeli Bluff,” an attempt by the Israeli government to view every criticism of the occupation as anti-Semitic, is nonsense as well. Leaders of the world ought to recognize the criticisms of the occupation as legitimate and act on it.
I’m so frustrated with the LEADERS (those who are supposed to LEAD and have a KEEN sense of how to direct their people) of the world being afraid to take action in situations that are in their hands. If Truman didn’t drop bombs on Japan, then who knows when WWII would have ended!
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