Some 20 Israeli and Palestinian film makers, writers and academics
met in Stockholm with a group of Swedish and Danish colleagues this
fall to discuss Palestinian and Israeli films and other cultural
issues. Organized by the Swedish Film Institute, and sponsored by
the Swedish International Development Agency and the Swedish
Institute, the seminar was held two weeks after the signing of the
Israeli-PLO Declar¬ation of Principles, and this was clearly
reflected in the dis¬cussions.
The Palestinian¬-Israeli dialogue had already entered a new
phase, and several Palestinians ex-pressed the wish to be left
alone to develop an independent cultural infra-structure, without
constant Israeli scrutiny, however well¬-meaning. At the same
time, a number of participants called for finding new ways of
cultural communication to strengthen the peace process.
It was pointed out in the discussions that Israelis felt a strong
need to take a sympathetic look at Palestinian society and its
suffering under their occupation. This could be seen as a way of
calming a bad conscience, and even indirectly justifying the
occupation; but this did not change the basic situation. Now that
the basic situation has changed - or at least seems likely to be
changed ¬some Palestinian participants argued that the time
had come for Palestinians to examine Israeli society, in the same
way that Israelis show interest in Palestinian society. Only when
Birzeit University has an Institute of Israel Studies will the
sit¬uation be normal, they suggested.
At the same time the quick changes in the current situation give
rise to a sense of insecurity on both sides. The Palestinians see
that their hopes are not being immediately fulfilled, while for the
Israelis things may seem to be moving too fast. Whatever the
reasons for the anxiety, several participants expressed the view
that the interim period can be described as one of emptiness, or
vacuum, which should be filled with different forms of ritual
behavior. The various forms of art are very important in order to
create the basic patterns for these new kinds of ritual
behavior.
An important feature of the seminar was the screening of the films
and the subsequent discussions. The Palestinian films screened and
discussed were Sahar's Wedding by Hannah Musleh, Shelter by Rashid
Mashrawi, Wedding in Galilee by Michel Khlefi, and Homage by
Assassination by Elia Suleiman. The Israeli films were Lookout by
Dina Zvi-Riklis, The Woman Next Door by Michal Aviad, Through a
Veil of Exile by David Benshetrit, and Avanti Populo by Rafi
Bukai.
Possibilities of co-productions, professional training of film
makers, and the development of a Palestinian infrastructure for
film and television were considered. The discussion about what the
film medium, and culture as a whole, can do to change perceptions
of "the other" in a situation of rapid political change only began
during the seminar; but the current political changes will no doubt
be reflected in the arts in the years to come.