HAIFA | As part of an ongoing series of USAID-supported Community Dialogue events organized by Seeds of Peace across the region, Israeli Seeds gathered for a screening and conversation about the film Omar.
“I want Seeds to discuss the conflict from the Palestinian point of view, and to encourage critical thinking on the different perspectives of the conflict and reality,” said Israeli Programs Coordinator Maayan Poleg, herself a Seed.
The movie relates the story of a young Palestinian and his daily life, and the sacrifices that have to be made in order to survive living under military occupation. Omar, the title character, is taken to an Israeli jail, because he was involved in the killing of a soldier.
“From that point on,” said Maayan, “the movie only becomes more real and painful, but also more human and interesting. It’s a movie you can’t be indifferent to.”
The film, prohibited in movie theaters in Israel, and screened during a particularly tense time, left the Seeds with much to discuss and process.
“I want to believe what we saw is not true,” said Itamar, one of the Israeli Seed participants.
“You have to understand that things like this really happen,” said Yara, another participant. “I personally know someone that went through similar things as Omar did in the movie.”
Earlier in the year, Seeds watched One Day After Peace, a documentary that examines whether the lessons learned from ending South African apartheid can be applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Local Seeds of Peace programming provides opportunities for Seeds to learn about and explore difficult issues in a safe setting. On the screening of Omar, Maayan said simply, “This meeting was one of the most powerful meetings I’ve had with Seeds.”