Ep 3. The Killing Call

The Honorable Woman is a political thriller series that follows Nessa Stein, the heiress of a British-Israeli arms dealer, as she attempts to promote peace in the Middle East. Season 1 episode 3, titled "The Killing Call," opens with Nessa's visit to the West Bank where she unveils her latest project- a high-speed data cable connecting Palenstine to Europe. This project is a significant milestone for Nessa, and she hopes it would help foster better communication and cooperation between the two regions.

During her visit, Nessa is confronted by Atika Halibi, a woman she met during her captivity in Gaza and who also worked for her father at the Stein Group. Atika is furious with Nessa because she feels she has abandoned her and her fellow Palestinian prisoners, and the cable project is nothing but propaganda. Nessa tries to diffuse Atika's anger, but she is unconvinced.

Back in London, Nessa faces interrogation from the Israeli Intelligence service, who believe that the cable project is a cover for something sinister. Nessa insists that it is a legitimate business venture, but it is evident that her ties to the Palestinian authority put her in a precarious position.

Meanwhile, back in Palestine, the cable project's construction is disrupted by the discovery of a group of illegal tunnels beneath the construction site. Nessa is conflicted as she had possibly turned a blind eye to the excavation of the tunnels in return for information about her family's involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The episode shifts focus to Nessa's brother, Ephra Stein, who is trying to secure a significant arms deal with the Palestinian factions. Ephra is a ruthless businessman and believes that the only way to secure peace is through the use of force. However, his plan falls apart when the arms deal is disrupted, and he almost gets killed by the Palestinian militants.

In the latter parts of the episode, Nessa is shaken by the revelation that her father may have received illicit arms money from the IRA before he died. This discovery puts her and her company in further jeopardy, and it is apparent that other parties are willing to go to great lengths to uncover the truth.

Overall, the "The Killing Call" is a thought-provoking episode that delves deep into the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It explores the lengths people are willing to go to achieve political and economic gains, and how the quest for peace can sometimes lead to violence and destruction. Nessa Stein's character is compelling, and her attempts to navigate the murky waters of international politics make for a fascinating watch.