Israel's Waltz with Injustice

Waltz with Bashir, an autobiographical "animated documentary" from Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman, examines the repressed memory and guilt of an IDF soldier's participation in the horrific 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre of Palestinian refugees, while simultaneously offering a sobering reminder of Israel's current, brutal military offensive in Gaza.

Throughout the movie, which is a striking collection of original interviews, flashbacks, dreams and war vignettes, Folman attempts to recollect his blocked memory of the fateful night of 15 September when nearly 2,000 innocent Palestinian refugees were brutally massacred in Lebanon by enraged Lebanese Christian Phalangist forces seeking revenge for their assassinated president, Bashir Gemayel.

A character reminds Folman that "memory is dynamic; it's real ... it fills in the holes." In order to preserve sanity when faced with trauma and horror, a psychologist relates a tale of an IDF soldier who remembered the carnage in Lebanon as a detached, neutral observer merely viewing the events through an imaginary camera as if seeing a movie. However, a horrific single memory of an open graveyard littered with slain beautiful Lebanese horses breaks this camera by forcing him to confront his traumatic experiences from the war, thereby inviting him inside the movie [his memories], instead of seeking protection outside it.

Although Folman's movie deals with his attempts to remember his complicity in the massacre of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon nearly 27 years ago, the movie's depiction of Israel's relentlessly aggressive militarism resonates powerfully as the world currently watches the Gaza Strip turn into a "concentration camp" -- according to a senior Vatican official -- due to two weeks of Israeli bombardments

Folman's striking animation portrays his IDF unit as young, horny, terrified kids who simply do as they are commanded, and thus proceed to shoot at everything in sight as they tear down Sidon, Lebanon with mortar shells, machine gun fire and tanks for hours on end. In an absurdly violent scene -- which would be comical for its surrealism if it were not a tragic reminder of an all too common reality -- Folman highlights Israel's misuse of force and penchant for reckless violence as they destroy roads, apartment buildings and villages just to eliminate a single rogue Mercedes commandeered by terrorists.

And yet, today we turn on the television and witness Israel striking clearly identified UN schools, killing at least 30 civilians on the pretext that it was a hideout for Hamas militants. In pacifying Gaza, Israel affronts the Geneva Treaty by using white phosphorous on one of the most densely populated areas on earth; a weapon so deadly it burns to the bone for those unlucky to be caught underneath its unforgiving cloud. In retaliation for Hamas firing outdated Qassam rockets that have killed 20 Israeli civilians in the past eight years, Israel's Operation Cast Lead military offensive follows Israel's two-year blockade of Gaza that has deprived 1.5 million Palestinians of necessary food, medicine, fuel and essential supplies. For good measure, they have also used dense inert metal explosives (DIME), which cuts its victims to pieces and reportedly causes cancer in survivors.

In the movie, Folman refuses to personally condemn specific people, and all the interviewees, including IDF soldiers present at the massacre, acknowledge they knew what was occurring but merely deferred to their superiors. However, Folman does single out Ariel Sharon, the Israeli defense minister at the time, who was found by his own government, through the Kahan commission, to "bear personal responsibility" for the Sabra and Shatilla massacre. Folman also depicts the IDF encircling the refugee camp, controlling all entrances and exists and providing cover and logistical support for the Phalangist militia that was given free reign to "clean out terrorist nests". The subsequent massacre of Palestinian refugees was declared as an act of genocide by the UN general assembly.

Eventually, Folman remembers his participation in the massacre. He fired flares that illuminated the darkened Lebanese night sky providing the militia with enough light to continue their bloodshed until the morning. His suppressed memory reveals not only the horrors of war, but also a burdensome, unspoken guilt. Questions of the banality of evil and the depths of one's complicity in aiding a massacre haunt him and other soldiers involved in the tragedy.

As in life, Folman's penetrating film offers few resolutions to such critical questions. Only at the end, as Folman's animated avatar finally stands in front of the grieving Palestinian women exiting the refugee camps, does he finally accept his role as a partner in this bloody waltz. At this moment of epiphany, Folman jarringly switches from animation to real, documentary footage depicting the devastated Palestinian survivors and the corpses of men, women and children. As the imaginary camera breaks, we awaken from the hallucinatory dream and are transformed into active observers forced to experience the horrifying reality of the massacre. Although Folman and his interview subjects never admit it, the film not only serves as a testament to their mea culpa, but also perhaps exists as an entreaty to atonement.

In order to achieve a similar awareness, however, Israel must break her imaginary camera and remove the blackened veil that has forever blinded her from confronting and accepting the crimes she has committed against the Palestinians and ultimately against herself.

As of today, Israel dances her waltz to the symphony of injustice.

Originally published in The Guardian

Related: Waltz with Folman: Q & A with the Award Winning Director of Waltz With Bashir

Comments

[MagisterLudi]

The reason for Gaza's endless youth bulge is that a large majority of its population does not have to provide for its offspring. Most babies are fed, clothed, vaccinated and educated by UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Unlike the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, which deals with the rest of the world's refugees and aims to settle them in their respective host countries, UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian problem by classifying as refugees not only those who originally fled their homes, but all of their descendants as we

[MagisterLudi]

"complicity in the massacre of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon nearly 27 years ago,"
Speaking of Lebanon

Funny there are no movies about complicity of Palestinian PLO in killing of 2,000 Lebanese and making refugees of 300,00 more during their brutal occupation of Southern Lebanon.
( Chomsky, Towards a New Cold War, p. 485 ).

Would anyone like to write about that? Anyone?
Lebanese remember that. Very well. The world would like to forget.

How about the fact that so-called defenders of Palestinains, Hezbollah NOW participate in DAILY oppression of Palestinian people living in their country.
Deprived by Hezbollah and others of basic human and civil rights?
Any blogs on this subject. No?

How of Syrian occupation and assassination of TWO members of Parliament and ex-Prime Minister opposed to Syria in a few month?
Hundreds of of people were killed and maimed in these attacks by Syria. Any blogs on that? No?

Hows that for sober reality?

Those who can understand the complexity of the situation in the Middle East should be encouraged to present their opinions. Others....

[mommamia526]

Dutch saying: Een ezel, in het gemeen, stoot zich niet tweemaal aan dezelfde steen.Translation;a donkey does not generally stub itself on the same stone twice.The *Palestinians* have a history. They were under colonization by the British,the British Mandate, and could not rid themselves of it without the help of jewish freedom fighters.Jordan is for the Palestinians. That is the two state solution.*Palestinians* fought against Jordan and lost, and have been in an internment camp in Lebanon ever since. Egypt lost Gaza to Israel. hey do not want it back, because they do not want the *Palestinian* population back.Jordan also does not want the *Palestinians* from Lebanon back.Right after WWII other liberations from colonization occurred, a.o. in Africa, in Indonesia, etc.There were massive migrations, a.o. to Europe.All those people have adapted and are thriving, up to a point. All sorts of disasters occur all over the world, and people adapt. *Palestinians* fight each other, and everyone else.They do not work,and have four wives at a time and numerous children (36!!!), which they can not and will not feed.They do not educate,have no government,no industry or economy. The PA does not have an army.They want *independence* without responsibility and others providing for them. Wherever they go they cause strive.

[MagisterLudi]

"Wherever they go they cause strive."
Jordan--Palestinians assassinate of Jordanian King. Numerous attempt to take over Jordan. As soon as PLO left--peace until today!!!
Lebanon-Palestinains took over Southern Lebanon and large chunks of Lebanon. Civil war ensued.
Kuwait--helped Hussein during invasion of Kuwait.
World-caused thousands of terrorist acts all over the world: airplane hijackings, ship hijack, Munchen Olympic, Rome airport etc.

[FLGuardsman]

Correction to my previus post. The Romans kicked the majority of the Jews out of Palestine around 200AD (Jews have been there ever since...I guess they should have a "right of return" to the lands they were kicked out of as well.) The Arabs overran the area around 600AD...not 600BC as previously posted.

[MagisterLudi]

According to Hamas charter, and general Arab thinking, all of the land conquered by Jihads belongs to Muslims forever.
Hamas Charter quotes:"This is the status [of the land] in Islamic Shari'a, and it is similar to all lands conquered by Islam by force, and made thereby Waqf lands upon their conquest, for all generations of Muslims until the Day of Resurrection.
There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. The initiatives, proposals and International Conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility..
http://www.acpr.org.il/resources/hamascharter.html
Nice guys these Hamas.

[FLGuardsman]

"To the Victor goes the spoils" That quote pretty much sums up the current debate about who has legitamate claim to Israel. All you Israel haters need to take a good long hard look in the mirror. If you truly believe that Israel "stole the land" from the Palestinians, then I guess we (the U.S.A) should give our country back to the Iroquois, the Sioux, Hopi, Cherokee, Mexico, Spain etc....after all we "illegally" took this land from them in war. Throughout history, one group of people have always fought other groups of people over parcels of land. To the Victor the safety and security of the state, to the loser, whats left. Like it or not, the Palestinians (If there really is such a thing) lost Canaan (what it was called when the Jews occupied it a millenia ago before being overrun by Arabs around 600BC) to the Jews, Jordanians, and Egyptians in 1948. Get over it. You want peace, accept what the land they gave you and stop attacking them. To attack only invites a counterattack....deal with it.

[Overd0g]

Could be worse. They've refrained from using neutron bombs.

[AirForceBlue]

Israel has, with USA complicity & aid, created a most wondrous land from rock that Saudi Arabia and neighbors with oil cannot duplicate even with all their billions. So it is there to "the end," whatever that may be for "whoever." Too bad the Palestinians can't get it and accept the inevitable 'cause Israel is there and ain't going nowhere, but would help the other to a form of prosperity. What? You scoff? But don't the Jews have an historical record of creating wealth in the midst of little, enriching their host countries through business, trade and cultural/scientific advances? Well, they have, the evidence is there to read for those who will objectively research it. That would be the same evidence reflecting how, throughout history, the Jews would be turned on and almost obliterated only to again create a most wondrous place from rock. This time they won't be obliterated.
Set aside Jew-hatred and visit Israel to witness yourself what has been created there. Then visit the alternative offered by the neighbors.

[SiberianRat]

I've been to their neighbors, and they suffer terribly because of Israel. They host hundreds of thousands of refugees, they have terrorist groups entrenched because of the illegal occupation, and they cannot govern effectively because of it. Israel is breaking international law and UN resolutions with the occupation, and they're now violating humanitarian law. Just because they have shiny cafes and whatnot doesn't mean they're a shining example of anything, except how to manipulate their way in to being held to a lower standard than other countries.

[AirForceBlue]

Perhaps you are referring to Jordan, which does have hundreds of thousands of refugees. As I witnessed in person, the refugees are looked upon with disgust as they are believed not to act very civily. Your demeaning of Israel's accomplishments in the desert reveals an utter dismissal of that country's valid existence & progress.
Occupation -- violating humantarian law -- seems Israel has been actually in a defensive posture since 1948 'cause they have been repeatedly attacked since then. The Palestinians/Arabs of the region are interested in the complete destruction of Israel, all the while profiting from their efforts. Swiss banks are filled with USA, UN & European monies by way of the PLO/Hamas factions who are/were supposed to distribute the aid to the "occupied."

[Lidi]

Your perspective is shockingly immature - first of all, with the billions upon billions of dollars in aid Israel has received from the US since long before it's official statehood, and will continue to receive in the future, it's no wonder they've been able to create the country they've created. Any country, with that kind of support, would have been able to do what Israel has done. This is not a "most wondrous land from rock" - it is a desert that has been irresponsibly turned into something it's not, whether you chose to see it that way or not. It is a desert! Water supplies are limited as it is - and Israel has created a country that simply can not sustain itself with the natural resources that surround it...tell me why that is so wondrous? What's more, you may want to entertain questions regarding the source of Israel's water supply, given the facts of its geography. You need to educate yourself - ignorance is not bliss, it's simply ignorance. There is nothing "wondrous" about this situation - the more you can do to demystify the situation the better.

[AirForceBlue]

I'm supposed to believe your filled-with-insults response is effective? No, you only diminish yourself.
Egypt has received nearly as much of aid since the Carter inspired peace between Israel and Egypt, and they have the fertile Nile banks, yet they remain third world. As I wrote, visit Israel, then make a judgement.

[Nickesq]

Too bad these good people are AGAINST PEACE. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-israel-palestine

[pjean]

"TEHRAN, Iran " The Israeli navy intercepted an Iranian ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing destined for Gaza and forced the vessel to Egypt instead, Iran's state television reported Wednesday"

[conradplan]

Thank you for reminding us of such painful brutality done in the name of "fighting terrorism." We too easily forget that modern Israel was established with a great deal of violence. Yes, Jews used terrorism to force the hand of England and the UN to allow them to have their own state. Many of their early leaders were terrorists first.
Besides, most students of human behavior know that children who are, for example, abused sexually or physically, grow up to become abusers themselves.
So should we be surprised when those who escaped the horrows of Nazi Germany, along with the periodic oppression of Jews over the last 20+ centuries, end up "abusing" others, namely, the Palestinians?
And no, I'm not blind to the violence perpretated by Hamas, Hezbollah (sp?), and other terrorist groups. Just don't turn a blind eye to the violence that continues to be executed by Israel.
And considering the record of the last eight years, neither are we Americans exempt from such brutality and inflicting terror upon others, such as at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib.
As a very wise Carpenter once said, "He who is without sin should cast the first stone." We would do well to pay more careful attention to our own blinders, and that all of us, to one degree or another, in the right setting, could be capable of terrible evil. As the Lord's Prayer says, may God indeed "keep us from evil."
Marcus

[vinny]

Context is everything. Here's a good link:

http://www.themediaoasis.com/Hamasrockets.htm#enforce

Help Israeli apologists remember what happened last year.

[SimonNZ]

Waltz with Bashir is an amazing film. Everyone should see it.

[genia]

They are bullies ...just like the US.

[Nickesq]

It's very easy to be a bully with atomic bombs, DIME, white phosphorous and other WMD. Just ask us.

[MagisterLudi]

Where was the anger when two Palestinian schoolgirls were killed in Gaza by Hamas rocket meant for Israeli school girls. A few day BEFORE Israel attack.

For those demonstrating In Jordan in defense of Palestinains. Where is the anger about Jordanians killing tens of thousands of Palestinains during the attempted coup in 1970.

For those whipping themselves into frenzy on streets of Lebanon- lead by Hassan Nasrallah--- where is the anger about the facts you Lebanese keeps generations of Palestinian refugees in camps that serve as jails? Without bacis civil and human rights?!

Pakistani--where are mass demonstrations against your home grown oppressors and terrorists who killed Bhutto facilitated Mumbai massacre and killed thousands of innocent Hindus

And Iranians should dare even whisper about oppression in other countries. A state where people are executed in a barbaric fashion for having extramarital affairs and fatwas are issued against foreign writers and journalists.

Advice: Focus on your own states unless they crumble under the velvety slipper of your home-grown Aaytollahs and Hamas mullahs.

[Freenation]

"Advice: Focus on your own states unless they crumble under the velvety slipper of your home-grown Aaytollahs and Hamas mullahs"

Mode Advice:

Add Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, Binyamin Netanyahu and Olmert to the mix too...

[gageeandbaba]

you stated something as we turn on the television we see.... that's not what happens, when we Americans turn on the television there is a complete blackout of what is happening. You have us Livestation to watch Al Jazeera to get the news.

[MagisterLudi]

Time for Hamas leadership to end its oppression of Palestinains and wanton terrorism toward Israeli citizens and exit the world stage.
I suggest the deal along the lines of the ouster of PLO from Lebanon to Tunis.
Or the model used to evict PLO from Jordan following the attempted coup there.
Time for Palestinains willing to live in peace with their neighbors to take power.
If not, let the war continue until those who can live in peace with themselves and Israel take control.
Harsh but this is what is going to happen.
And all the propaganda and crocodile tears won't help those who wish to fight Israel instead of talk.
Throughout the ENTIRE 60 year conflict, only ONE time a Palestinian Arab representative was willing to talk peace--Arafat.. And even he reneged and resorted to his old ways.
But he was only the Palestinian to even try.