Watch Palestine Is Still The Issue
- 2003
- 52 min
-
8.2 (437)
Palestine Is Still The Issue is a documentary film released in 2002 and directed by Australian journalist and filmmaker John Pilger. The film takes a critical look at the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis and examines human rights abuses suffered by Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The film is based on Pilger's own experiences in the region and features interviews with Palestinians, Israelis, activists and analysts who provide a variety of perspectives on the issue.
The film begins with Pilger visiting Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and Gaza and speaking with residents about their experiences. He documents the poor living conditions and lack of basic amenities, such as running water and electricity, that they face on a daily basis. Pilger then travels to Israel and speaks with Israelis who have lost family members to Palestinian suicide bombings. The film shows the anger and fear that many Israelis feel as a result of the violence.
Throughout the film, Pilger provides historical context for the conflict, going back to the 1948 creation of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs. He interviews Palestinians who remember the events, known as the Nakba, and describes the ongoing impact it has had on their lives.
Pilger also examines the role of the United States in the ongoing conflict. He notes that the US provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel each year, and that the US has vetoed United Nations resolutions critical of Israel. He interviews analysts who argue that the US's support for Israel makes a peaceful resolution to the conflict unlikely.
The film includes footage of the Israeli military occupying Palestinian cities and routinely destroying homes and other buildings. Pilger also documents the building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in violation of international law. He interviews Palestinians who have lost their homes and land to the settlements and who have been forced to live under Israeli military rule.
Throughout the film, Pilger emphasizes the need for a political solution to the conflict. He argues that Palestinians must be given the right to self-determination and that a two-state solution is the only viable option. He interviews Palestinian leaders, including Yasser Arafat, and shows the difficult conditions under which they operate.
Overall, Palestine Is Still The Issue is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Pilger's interviews and footage give viewers a view into the lives of Palestinians and Israelis caught up in the conflict, and his historical analysis provides a broader understanding of the issue. The film is both informative and emotionally impactful, and it is a must-see for anyone interested in understanding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.