MovieChat Forums > To Die in Jerusalem Discussion > Dangerous for Jewish Mother to Visit?

Dangerous for Jewish Mother to Visit?

posted 16 years ago by clambunny
5 replies | jump to latest

Question... hopefully for people who live in the area... The jewish mother felt it was very unsafe for her to visit Ayat's mother in the Palestine Authority area. How much of that fear was justified? I know next to nothing about it, but the feeling I got form the film was that her fear was more paranoia than anything else, probably she was too afraid to meet with Ayat's parents also (I mean, if she really wanted to meet them it wouldn't take 4 years to happen).

[–] dwacon-2 16 years ago

This Israeli mother reminded me of the whites who would never visit the ghetto because it was too dangerous.

Granted, there is no direct parallel between the Israeli/Palestinian situation and the American Black/White situation... but it still makes one think.

Can't we all get along?

Apparently not...

Dwacon
http://dwacon.blogspot.com/

[–] Julynosaurus_Sex 16 years ago

Maybe I would agree had an arrest not taken place.

Palma Ut Verum.. taking my meds

[–] jimmyzimms 16 years ago

While it seems hard for most westerners to understand exactly the sense of fear and distrust and danger occurring in this movie (specifically her traveling to the PA controlled West Bank) you must remember that this is the Middle East we are talking about. Unlike say the US or the UK or France most of the world’s population lives in places where the threat of violence is a very real thing; Where it's common to heavily armed military presence on a daily basis be it at an airport, a gas station, a mall, or even a grocery store.

While I do believe that the mother had some trepidation in meeting the parents I don't believe she was making up her nervousness in traveling in the West Bank. This is a part of the world where people are actively engaged in attacks against each other on an almost daily basis. The two families in question are not the issue but there are people on both sides of the line that are extreme in their views to the point that they will kill each other or anyone that’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[–] ostiarius 16 years ago

I'm a Jew and I've been to the West Bank. That said, I would still never go to an Arab camp like that. Especially if I were a woman.

Made you look.

[–] slugdub 14 years ago

Good question. I used to live there for work and am Catholic and would very frustrated when they would say I can't go here or there. I was like "that is the rule for you.. for Jews.. for Israelis, I am a Christian tourist remember!!"

I was there for a long time twice and even during Xmas and never went to Bethlehem even because they made it sound like such a big deal! I went to Jordan and Egypt a bunch, but never Palestine except for Hebron a bunch but barely into the Arab side (still that town is insane).

Even if you go there it is all so hard to figure out if what you are seeing is real, if your feelings are accurate or paranoid, or what is safe and what is not. I must say the mom is probably experiencing 50% common sense and 50% paranoid.

I mean, look at who they sent to drive her.. he can't protect her for *beep*