Censored Voices

The 1967 Six-Day War between Israel and an Arab coalition that included Egypt, Jordan, and Syria was somewhat miraculously won by Israel. The nation celebrated, but a week after victory was declared, two young veterans of the battle—Amos Oz, today a famous author, and Avraham Shapira, an editor—went on a tour of kibbutzim (community settlements) to record interviews with fellow soldiers. Some of that material made its way into Shapira's subsequent book The Seventh Day, but most of it was censored by the Israeli military. Censored Voices presents, for the first time, much of what was squelched, and does so in a quiet but powerful way. Filmmaker Mor Loushy found some of these veterans and asked them to listen to their younger selves in the 1967 recordings. The grim, mournful looks on their faces speak volumes as they hear themselves not only talk about the horror of the fight but also question the morality and wisdom of seizing control of Gaza, Golan, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. Looking into the future, many wonder about the long-term consequences of Israel turning into an occupying force in civilian territories, driving Arabs from their homes to refugee camps, and killing the unarmed. One soldier asks, what was the point of making Arabs hate us more? Another wonders if Israel is doomed to fight wars with its neighbors every 10 years. Regardless of how individual viewers feel about these issues—or contemporary debates about Israel's security—it is stunning to hear these young men reflect on their then-recent war experiences. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh)