Palestine

Promises (2001 Documentary - 106 minutes) A beautiful and deeply moving portrait of seven Palestinian and Israeli children living in the Jerusalem area. Although they live only 20 mins apart, these children exist in completely separate worlds, divided by physical, historical, and emotional boundaries. The children offer refreshing, personal and sometimes humorous insight into the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Through candid interviews, the film explores a legacy of distrust and bitterness, but signs of hope emerge when some of the children dare to cross the checkpoints to meet one another. A must see!

The Iron Wall (2006 Documentary - 52 minutes) Following the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, more than 200 settlements and outposts have been built in these territories, in violation of international law. The Iron Wall exposes this phenomenon and follows the timeline, size, population of the settlements, revealing how their construction has been a cornerstone of Istaeli government policy, and demonstrates how The Wall helps secure them as permanent and ireversible facts on the groundl As the possibility of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state seems to be less probable, the chance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict is slippping away as well.

Occupation 101: Voices of the Silent Majority (Documentary, 2007- 90 mins) A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict, this film presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never-ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions. The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in the American media .

Encounter Point (2006 Documentary - 85 mins) What happens when a former Israeli settler, a convicted Palestinian fighter, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian ex-prisoner cross paths in one of the most explosive regions in the world? Their hjourneys lead them to the unlikeliest places to confront hatred within their communities. What drives them and thousands of other like-mided civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for peace? And why is it, with the world's cameras focused on this conflict, we have never heard about the peacemakers in the region? Very inspired film!

You see "a clash of civilizations: suicide bombers and kidnappers on one side spewing hateful, nihilistic rhetoric, and one of the world’s most powerful armies on the other, reining down its massive force to subdue the local population and maintain its occupation. These are the archetypes that characterize coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Caught in the crossfire are thousands of Palestinian and Israeli civilians who reject violence and who seek to build a secure, peaceful future for their children. Reverberations from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are felt worldwide. It is perhaps the most divisive, polarizing and documented political issue of our time." Quote from Encounter Point website

These 5 movies were specifically chosen to help American's understand the conflict in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. If you have a Civic Group or Church Group that would like to see any of these movies, please contact us.

Holy Land: Common Ground-(Documentary- 92 mins) Home is the most important place in the world. In three stories about homes, Israelis and Palestinians show that the things they want in their homes are the same we want in ours: safety, security, joy and relaxation, comfort and nuture. These aspects of home life are not just desirable for some. They are essential for all.

"Many politicians in America and Europe have abandoned serious hope for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Israelis and Palestinians in this film keep hope alive by showing that really courageous people on both sides reject the violence that surrounds them. Their courage is encouraging." Rev Jesse Jackson