Jan. 22, movie response

I am in no way pro one side or the other. I don't have enough knowledge of the conflict to keep a steady position for either side. However, considering our fist day of class we examined a pro-Palestine film, i'd like to discuss what I feel was biased or wrong and argue a handful of the films main points. Through out the conflict both sides have been in the wrong and I feel that because each side responds to violence and hatred with even more violence and hatred they are far past who's right and who's wrong. Each side finds that to be a martyr is to be a hero (a terrible mindset.) The film examined Israel's poor choices, violent decisions and the sympathy and aid that Israel has received from the US. But what about Palestine? I understand that Israelis have killed so many Palestinians, but everything that Israel has undergone you can bet Palestine has gone through as well. Palestinian children and young adults have been and continue to be taught hatred towards Israelis. Within Palestinian schools, Israel is not even acknowledged, and Israel's right to exist is definitely not acknowledged.

When the film discussed the money that the US has given to Israel and the lack of money and aid the US has given Palestine why did the film choose not to explain  how Palestine chose to use money the US had given them in the past? At one point Palestine created military-like camps for young children and adults in order to teach them how to kill and who to kill. These camps were created with US money and were said to be "summer camps," as if they were learning how to swim, or how to make friends, etc.  The US was misled and thought they were doing good for Palestinian children when in reality Palestine lied about the use of that money.

Though Arafat chose not to accept the Camp David- Taba peace negotiations, isn't it true that Barak was prepared to give Palestine everything they had initially asked for. What was Palestine prepared to give? The intermediary of both parties, Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia begged Arafat to take the deal and yet he turned it down without even suggesting a counterproposal. Bandar explained to Arafat that "if we lose this opportunity it's going to be a crime," and still today most everyone places full blame on Arafat for the failure of the deal.