(IPSC) Irish Premiere Screening of 'Jerusalem: East Side Story' (plus Q&A with the director)

galway | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Wednesday October 08, 2008 17:20 by Kev - IPSC (pers cap) info at ipsc dot ie 01 6770253

What: (IPSC) Irish Premiere Screening of 'Jerusalem: East Side Story' (plus Q&A session with director Mohammad Alatar)
Where: Harbour Hotel, The Docks , Galway
When: 4pm, Saturday 11th October

Jerusalem: East Side Story

On Saturday 11th October 2008 at 4pm, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign is proud to present the Irish Premiere Screening of the new documentary film ‘Jerusalem: East Side Story’ by acclaimed Palestinian director Mohammad Alatar in the The Harbour Hotel on Galway Docks. The film will be followed by a question and answers session with the director.

The film focuses on the Israel’s illegal annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, the ongoing dispossession of its Palestinian residents since that time and their daily struggle to survive in the face of the Israeli military machine and the constant threat of house demolitions. This is Alatar’s second film about Palestine, the first ‘The Iron Wall’ (2006) was highly praised, including by former US President Jimmy Carter who called it “the best description of the [Israeli] barrier, its routing and impact”. Other reviews called it “outstanding”, “highly recommended” and “a powerful film”.

About the film:

Jerusalem: East Side Story squeezes nearly one hundred years of history into an hour or so of cinema. It exposes the past forty years of Israeli military occupation and repressive policies in Jerusalem, and their devastating impact on the city and its Palestinian residents.

Since its annexation in 1967 Israel has pursued a policy of ‘Judaizing’ the Eastern part of the city, aiming to achieve “Jewish demographic superiority.” An essential element of this policy is attempting to drive out Palestinian Muslims and Christians, while at the same time encouraging illegal Israeli settlements.

The documentary takes you on a journey exposing Israel’s policies of gaining supremacy and hegemony over the city and its inhabitants. It also touches on the future of the city: Jerusalem is the key to peace; without Jerusalem, there is no peace for anyone.

The film includes interviews with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, human rights activists and political analysts.

About the director:

Mohammad Alatar is a Palestinian refugee born in Jordan who now lives in the USA. He is a longtime peace activist and a founder of Palestinians for Peace and Democracy, a grassroots group “dedicated to educating the public about the plight of the Palestinian people and their struggle toward freedom and statehood.” He has directed two films about Palestine, ‘The Iron Wall’ (2006) and most recently ‘Jerusalem: East Side Story’ (2008). This is his first visit to Ireland.