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Remember ... From 1947 to 1949 an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homeland. Picture: Supplied
To acknowledge the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of Israel SBS will screen two documentaries over two nights - I Remember 1948 on May 13 and Jerusalem Cuts on May 14.
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I Remember 1948 Tuesday 13 May 11.45pm
In I Remember 1948, screening on SBS on Tuesday 13 May at 11.45pm, four Palestinian elders tell of their lives in Palestine before and after the tumultuous days of Al-Nakba - the Palestinian "Catastrophe" that began with the establishment of the State of Israel on May 15, 1948.
From 1947 to 1949 an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homeland. Almost 60 years later and unlikely ever to return, their stories are sometimes shocking yet always an honest and open account of their lives and their exile. v"I still have the greatest desire to go back to Palestine to the place where I was born and have a handful of dirt in my hand just to say that I am back, to see my birth village and to still feel that I belong to that land" says Dr Mahmoud Hourani.
Directed by young Arab experimental filmmaker, Fadia Abboud, and with the music of renowned oud player Joseph Tawadros, I Remember 1948 is an intimate and emotional journey.
For more information, go to: www.balladfilms.com.au
Jerusalem Cuts, Wednesday 14 May, 10.30pm
How important are the photos to the survival of one story? How do they determine the way an event is remembered?
On May 14, 1948, eight hours before the British mandate over Palestine was to expire, Israel's future Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared independence for the State of Israel. Moments later the infant state was recognized by the Soviet Union, the United States, and many other countries. Soon after however, thousands of troops from neighbouring Arab countries invaded the newly established Jewish state and the Arab-Israeli conflict had begun.
Jerusalem Cuts, screening on SBS television May 14 at 10.30pm, documents this first ten day war from the markedly different perspectives of three men; John Phillips, one of the world's first photojournalists shooting with a sympathetic eye for the Jewish community; Jack Padwa, from a right wing Jewish British family who produced the first major fiction film of the country - based on his character and his memory of the war; and Zaki Zaarour, son of Palestinian photographer Ali Zaarour, who recounts the "Catastrophe" through the memory of his fathers' photographs taken at the time and the mystery of his fathers' stolen photo album.
Filmed as a trilogy with three interwoven stories, Jerusalem Cuts is a moving and honest recollection about how differently one event can be viewed through the eyes of another.
topComments (12)
The "so-called" Nakba
The Iraqi author 'Aref 'Alwan makes comments pertinent to this issue "owing to the ideological distortions that have afflicted the Arab popular consciousness since the so-called Nakba...'terrorism' has become attached to Arabs, wherever they are." "[This attitude] is rooted in the 1947 Arab League resolution stating that Palestine is a 'stolen' land and that none but a Muslim Arab is entitled to benefit from it…even if another's historic roots there PREDATE those of the Muslims or the Arabs."
14 May 2008 16:08 AEST
From: Sandringham
Misinformation underpins violence
Jews were the first Palestinians and were resident in what we call Palestine 2,500 years before Islam was invented, and maintained a continuous presence. Arab attacks intensified in 1936 as more Jews settled, and Arabs waged war immediately the State of Israel was declared by the UN in 1948. Iraqi author 'Aref 'Alwan writes “Arabs who are averse to such inhuman behavior must help me expose and eliminate the enormous lie that has for 60 years justified, extolled, and supported brutality.”
14 May 2008 11:44 AEST
From: Sydney
shame
The longer Israel and its supporters deny the wrongs of 1948, the longer it will take the state of Israel to truly become a state, to come of age and to hold its head high among other nations. It took Australia more than 200 hundred years to recognises it indegeneous peoples, and yet we still have far to go. How much more can both the people of Israel and the People of Palestine must suffer before Justice is done.
13 May 2008 23:42 AEST
From: Melbourne
The 'Thoughtfulness' of anti-Semitism
The 'thoughtfulness' of those who deny the right of Jewish self-determination. Arab causes bear little more ingenuity of disguise than the Final Solution. Indeed the arabs of lower Syria had staked out land for the western mediterranean branch of Auschwitz as soon as Rommel could prevail. The same old Deir Yassin chestnut. The inhabitants of DY were all armed and fought a day long battle against the IZL. Understand this. The Jews no longer care what lies you think. There will be more 'Nakbahs'.
13 May 2008 23:16 AEST
From: Surry Hills
Important fact
the so called 'refugee' left their property of their OWN will to the sorrounding arab countries who promised to support them until battle is over. The arab countries attacked israel which was then established on the AGREED land. well - the arabs lost.
13 May 2008 23:13 AEST
From: Melbourne
13 May 2008 23:10 AEST
From: Melbourne
Reply
In 1948 the Arab armies attacked Israel with the intention of annihilating the newly formed Jewish state. Israel successfully defended herself at the cost of 1% of her population. I struggle to fathom the indignation that the Goyim express whenever the Jews defend themselves. And make no mistake we will continue defending ourselves. Your intolerance, guised as anti-Zionism, only make us more resolute.
12 May 2008 21:27 AEST
From: Hurlstone Park
We made I REMEMBER 1948 as a way of communicating Palestinian refugee's experiences of war and dispossession. It is a gentle film, I think, which also reflects the experiences of other peoples who have been driven from their homes by colonisation. Israel forbids these 4,500,000 refugees to ever return home. Saying Al Nakba is like calling Australia Day - Survival Day or Invasion Day. I hope that people can consider this thoughtfully. (If they can stay up to such a late hour ro see the film!)
11 May 2008 21:31 AEST
From: Adelaide
Prior to 14.5.48 several hundred Arabs at Deir Yassin, were herded into their houses and massacred by Begin and his IZL terrorists and Shamir and his Stern Gang, resulting in Arabs fleeing in sheer terror from Haifa to Lebanon, hoping to return after the fighting . Some hope!. I witnessed it. They lost their homes, possessions,businesses, bank balances, schooling, their heritage , their dignity and worse the land of their birthright. Never to return. 750,000 of them.Give them some pity.
11 May 2008 16:37 AEST
From: Perth
11 May 2008 9:54 AEST
From: Brisbane
In typical leftist fashion, SBS takes side and commemorates the 60th anniversary of the reestablishment of Israel after 2000 years of persecution, genocide and hardship for the jewish people with an arab propaganda piece on their supposed expulsion, the so-called "nakba", instead of telling the stories of the Israeli people, whose Anniversary this is. 1.3 billion muslim viewers are a better media customer group than a few jews, that is sure.
10 May 2008 15:26 AEST
From: Darlinghurst
I am outraged at the timing of what sounds like an important documentary on the Palestinian experience of the foundation of the State of Israel. Surely a 60th anniversary of an important world event which is ocntinually in our headlines deserves better than this. We need much more balance in presentation between the israeli and Palestinian narrative. To place an important Australian persepctive on the Palestinian experience near midnight in the middle of the working week indicates contempt.
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14 May 2008 19:18 AEST
Lee
From: Sandringham