THERE IS ANOTHER WAY
By Joe Burns, Commission member
This was the title of the SPARK-sponsored film in the 11th Leeds Palestinian Film Festival. It was shown on Friday 21 November to an audience of about 70 people. As usual, there were several stalls selling Palestinian goods that looked to do good business. The Leeds Diocese Pax Christi group organised the refreshments (as well as having chosen the film).
The film itself was a good, if harrowing at times, watch. It followed members of Combatants for Peace. This organisation is made up of people who, at one time, were either part of a Palestinian military group or were part of the Israeli Defence Force. However, they had come to the conclusion that nonviolence was the only way in which a just and lasting peace can be obtained. The organisation has been going for about 20 years and this is the 3rd film that has been made about them (J&P previously sponsored another film that was about their activities).
The film started with the Hamas killings and hostage takings on October 7th 2023. Much of the film explored how this horrific event affected members of Combatants for Peace and their continued commitment to nonviolence as the only way forward. The filmmakers decided to focus on exploring this event and its effects on members. Both Israeli and Palestinian members were impacted – with one Palestinian member explaining how 60 of his extended family had been killed since October 2023. However, it had not diminished their commitment to nonviolence.
The film was a little over an hour so there was ample time for a post-film discussion with questions. Janet Symes, formerly head of the Middle East and South Asia desk for CAFOD provided some excellent reflection on the film and did her best to answer peoples’ questions. It was striking that some in the audience had completely missed the point about the nonviolent approach – one person describing it as ‘misguided’. It is not just Hamas and the Israeli Government who seem to think that violence can solve this situation! However, this made it all the more worthwhile for SPARK to have shown this film.
This was made possible by financial support from the Sisters of Sion.