Occupation 101

This is one of those films that will provoke only one reaction from people but in two very different ways. That reaction is shock and whether you're pro-Israel or anti-occupation those reactions can be vastly different. Now I'm sure (at least in the U.S. I can't speak for the rest of the world) this is a place you must tread lightly. Apologists will surely call anyone supporting this film anti-semitic. It's clearly not, though it is anti-Zionist. And, for the record, I hate using the term "Zionist" since it's somehow been attached to hate group who use it as a blanket term for ALL Jews. As this is certainly not the case, I'll avoid using the term for practical purposes.

This film digs into a lot of issues I've personally wondered about since I was a young teenager and the first Palestinian rebellion began in the early 1990s. Most importantly to me as an American, "Why do we give Israel so much money to do things we know are wrong?". This film, although a bit slickly edited for a documentary, does a very good job of obtaining facts and backing them up as well as gathering firsthand accounts from strong sources. The fact that Israelis were willing to go on camera and speak out against what their nation is doing says volumes in support of this film. That fact alone should tell you that questioning Israel's actions is not anti-semitic...it's humanistic.

Some might say this is rabidly pro-Palestinian and in a very small way they might be right. There's not a lot of information about what Palestians do in reaction to these crimes, often causing violence themselves. But then again if all you have is a rifle and the other guy has a tank...well...that's like bringing your fists to a gunfight. And anyone who calls this film "controvertial" will clearly be trying to rally against it. All it does is collect evidence and testimony for things that are happening and have happened. If Jews and Israelis take offense or don't like it then perhaps they can persuade the state of Israel to stop what it's doing so people cannot portray them as war mongers. And trust me, living in the United States we know a thing or two about war mongering.

I saw this film at the deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma City where it won the Feature Documentary Award and I was able to visit with the Writer/Director, Abdullah Omeish. The clean cut well spoken young man could've come off any American college campus. Abdullah has worked on this project for years and the result is a comprehensive study of the current situation in this Middle Eastern hotbed.

'Occupation 101' explores the beginnings of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; tracing the history through today. The straightforward approach is objective and graphics are used effectively without the classroom feeling. Omeish also makes interesting use of the voluminous archival footage available. To avoid appearing bias no Palestinian Officials were interviewed with all experts being Israeli or Americans. The target audience is the United States, rather than just 'the West', since the Producer feels they are the most in need of an educational background of the conflict.

The American Christian-Jewish connection could've been fleshed-out better but one can get the idea for the unqualified support the United States gives Israel. The film is thought provoking and begs questions that don't have any easy answers. The goal of the film is educational and it has succeeded, providing needed insight into the conflict. This is an important film that hopefully will find a wider voice which very well could aid fair & balanced dealings with all involved.

There is no doubt that this is a one-sided movie. If you love Israel, this will be a very difficult film to watch, and you'll probably be highly critical.

But if you're interested in understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this is best and most digestible account of the Palestinian perspective.

Don't take everything in this movie at face value. There's plenty of pandering to your heart, crying mothers, and upset children. But it is well researched, with a good account of the history of the conflict, and it eloquently explains many of the hot button issues for the Palestinian man on the street.. life under occupation, religious discrimination, US support for Israel, Gaza, and checkpoints.

After watching this, you'll understand better why a small minority turn to violence, and you'll have much more admiration for the large majority of Palestinians who've suffered and protested peacefully their lack of rights through 40 years of military occupation.

The movie is now a few years old, but it's still relevant.

I highly recommend this movie. It can be found online.

I know this may seem like only one side of the story, but the whole point is that we generally only hear the other side of it. In my opinion, this documentary brings another perspective to people's perception of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, and makes it all feel very real. You can't fail to feel the pain of these poor people, unless you're not human.

That being said, make sure you DO hear the other side of the story as well, before making your own mind up. You won't get the entire story here.

Truly Heartbreaking, but everyone NEEDS to see this.

This movie shows why president Jimmy Carter called his book 'Palestine, not Apartheid'. It shows the terrible conditions in which the Palestinians live and the Israeli policies that make these conditions possible. The most interesting aspect of the movie is how it exposes the absolute biased and twisted picture that has been painted of the conflict in the media. The media has somehow managed to convince the world that the Israelis are craving for peace and that Arabs are a bunch of anti-semitic terrorists. I'm convinced that many people (not me, as I am pretty well informed on the subject) will be absolutely stunned to learn that what they have been told for decades now is a farce. The movie describes Israel as a state which acts out policies that are extremely racist, reminiscent of South Africa and segregated USA, bent on destroying a civilization and wiping out any trace of Arab Palestine. The movie also describes the roots of the conflict, beginning with the rise of European Zionism. The movie is very well made, plus it has Noam Chomsky in it, which in itself is a good enough reason to watch the movie.