Cassidy Centre for Educational Justice (CCEJ)’s Post

“In the late 1990s, Israeli graduate student Teddy Katz researched a large-scale Israeli massacre that had allegedly occurred in the Palestinian village of Tantura in 1948. His work later came under attack and his reputation ruined, but 140 hours of audio testimonies remain. “Director Alon Schwarz revisits former Israeli soldiers of the Alexandroni Brigade and confronts them with Teddy's recorded audiotape interviews as well as visiting former Palestinian residents of Tantura in an effort to re-examine what happened in the village and explore why ‘The Nakba’ is taboo in Israeli society. “The now elderly ex-soldiers recall their unsettling acts while disquietly pausing at points they either don't want to remember or won't speak of. Audio from Katz's 20-year-old interviews cuts through the silence of self-preservation and exposes ways in which power, silencing, and protected narratives can sculpt history. “The film provides a rare look at Israeli society's first-generation and how the country's founding myth has shaped reality for generations. The film brings never before seen archival footage from 1948 alongside intimate interviews with ex-Israeli soldiers, Palestinian residents, and historians.”

“In the late 1990s, Israeli graduate student Teddy Katz researched a large-scale Israeli massacre that had allegedly occurred in the Palestinian village of Tantura in 1948. His work later came under attack and his reputation ruined, but 140 hours of audio testimonies remain. “Director Alon Schwarz revisits former Israeli soldiers of the Alexandroni Brigade and confronts them with Teddy's recorded audiotape interviews as well as visiting former Palestinian residents of Tantura in an effort to re-examine what happened in the village and explore why ‘The Nakba’ is taboo in Israeli society. “The now elderly ex-soldiers recall their unsettling acts while disquietly pausing at points they either don't want to remember or won't speak of. Audio from Katz's 20-year-old interviews cuts through the silence of self-preservation and exposes ways in which power, silencing, and protected narratives can sculpt history. “The film provides a rare look at Israeli society's first-generation and how the country's founding myth has shaped reality for generations. The film brings never before seen archival footage from 1948 alongside intimate interviews with ex-Israeli soldiers, Palestinian residents, and historians.”

We'd like to extend an invitation to play a key role in turning conflicts into opportunities for understanding, growth and lasting peace through the media of film. Our friends at STAND 4 PEACE are working towards a documentary film project: Scilla's Mighty Heart: Planning for Peace. The film will inform, educate and inspire us to make an impact on the world with real stories of those who have made a stand for peace, and explore why it's critical for women to be an integral part of the peace process. They are working with Jeremy Gilley MBE, award winning film-maker and Peace One Day Founder and Deeyah Khan, BAFTA and Peabody award-winning documentary film director and producer. For those interested in contributing to the process we are holding an event online with the production team: Mighty Hearts Unite on August 15th-9am PDT/5pm BST: https://lnkd.in/ezyAykvQ More information and how to support the project can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ePKvnFdc The process of peace and conflict prevention is under-financed and under-visioned. Peace needs a vision with proven methods. We'd love your help to create impact with real stories of those who have been brave enough to make a stand for peace.