The history of the land of Palestine is long, complicated, and tragic. Beginning with the biblical story of ancient Hebrews being awarded the land by God, Israel and Palestine: A Divided Land looks at the founding of Israel, the Six-Day War and Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories starting in 1967, and abruptly ends with an image of Yasser Arafat (whose face most schoolchildren won't recognize). While neither one of the featured commentators here--a rabbi and a Palestinian activist--are historians, it is still astonishing to hear the former say that anti-Semitism was not a problem for Jews immigrating to the U.S. and Canada (look up the sad history of the S.S. St. Louis!). In addition, even though the teacher's guide reasonably states that the video "cannot attempt to cover all of the events, effects, and personalities in the history of the Middle East," the omission of Christians from this scenario is both glaring and puzzling (Christians were and are living in these same lands; “protecting” them from Islam was the rationale for the infamous medieval Crusades). Palestinian Christians remain part of the Middle East mix, and while the interrelationship between the three religions is complex, neglecting to mention an entire faith makes this a less-than-comprehensive overview. Optional. Aud: H. (R. Reagan)
Israel and Palestine: A Divided Land
(2004) 41 min. VHS: $59.95 (teacher’s guide included). Knowledge Unlimited. PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 1-55933-309-X. Volume 19, Issue 6
Israel and Palestine: A Divided Land
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