Israeli Film Makers also Write

Fra: Yael Bartana <[email protected]>
Dato: 22. juli 2006 10.16.30 MET
Til: Yael Bartana <[email protected]>
Emne: A letter from Israeli filmmakers to Palestinian and Lebanese 
filmmakers

TEXT of letter follows:

We, the undersigned Israeli filmmakers, greet the Arab filmmakers who have gathered in Paris for the Arab Film Biennial. Through you, we wish to convey a message of camaraderie and solidarity with our Lebanese and Palestinian colleagues who are currently besieged and bombarded by our country’s army.

We unequivocally oppose the brutality and cruelty of Israeli policy,  which has reached new heights in recent weeks. Nothing justifies the  continued occupation, closure, and oppression in Palestine. Nothing justifies the bombing of civilians and the destruction of 
infrastructures in Lebanon and Gaza.

Allow us to tell you that your films, which we try to see and circulate among us, are extremely important in our eyes. They enable us to know  and understand you better. Thanks to these films, the men, women, and children who suffer in Gaza, Beirut, and everywhere else our army exercises its violence - have names and faces. We would like to thank  you and encourage you to keep on filming, despite the difficulties.

For our part, we will continue to express through our films, with our raised voices, and in our personal actions our vehement opposition to the occupation, and we will continue to express our desire for freedom, justice, and equality among all the peoples of the region.

Nurith Aviv / Ilil Alexander / Adi Arbel  / Yael Bartana / Philippe 
Bellaiche / Simone Bitton / Michale Boganim / Amit Breuer / Shai 
Carmeli-Pollack / Sami S. Chetrit / Danae Elon / Anat Even / Jack Faber 
/ Avner Fainguelernt / Ari Folman / Gali Gold / BZ Goldberg / Sharon 
Hamou / Amir Harel / Avraham Heffner / Rachel Leah Jones / Dalia Karpel 
/ Avi Kleinberger / Elonor Kowarsky / Edna Kowarsky / Philippa Kowarsky 
/ Ram Loevi  / Avi Mograbi / Jud Neeman / David Ofek / Iris Rubin / 
Abraham Segal / Nurith Shareth  / Julie Shlez / Eyal Sivan / Yael 
Shavit / Eran Torbiner / Osnat Trabelsi / Daniel Waxman / Keren Yedaya

Comments

[Rick]

Filmmakers? Filmmakers?? Of course. Filmmakers know what's best for America. How could they not know what is best for Israel?

[bbbustard]

I understand that you believe in "limited" democracy. Perhaps you could provide me with a list of professions that automatically disqualify one's voice from being heard.
As a start, I bet we can agree that any opinions voiced by actors (who after all work for filmmakers) and male cheerleaders, should always be dismissed instantly.

[Rick]

No, no. Filmmakers are fine. Male cheerleaders too, if you like. Don't get me wrong. Your sources of knowledge are, after all, your sources of knowledge. I mean, once you have become reliant on actors and tobacco farmers as primary sources for information on macro climate, why stop?

You know, it has occurred to me, that I don't believe that you have mentioned even once, the fact that Hezbollah crossed into northern Israel, killed eight Israeli soldiers, kidnapped two more and returned to Lebanon. You have mentioned that Israeli guided munitions do go astray from time to time resulting in the deaths of innocents. But, I don't believe that you have mentioned that Hezbollah uses completely unguided rockets, that have no strategic military value, but serve only to create havoc and kill civilian populations. I apologize if you have given this matter equal time and I have simply overlooked it.