Online Videos About the Middle East Conflict(s)

Published October 04, 2008 @ 01:43PM PT

The Power of Nightmares - The Rise of the Politics of Fear

This is a BBC documentary on the rise of Neo-Conservatism in the United States and Radical Islam in the Middle East. Adam Curtis, the film’s writer and producer, focuses on these two movements as separate and similar entities—separate because they both are of two religions, and yet similar because they also use religion to justify acts of war. Influenced by the attacks on September 11, 2001 and the Iraqi war that followed, this film discusses how keeping mass amounts of people in fear allows for political control. 180 minutes.

History of Religion

In 90 seconds one can learn the history of the world’s three main monotheistic religions and two of it’s polytheistic religions. From the birth of Krishna to Muhammad, this interactive map plays like a movie to show the expansion of the world’s religions throughout time. 1.5 minutes.

Imperial History of the Middle East

The Middle East was the birth of civilization. Beginning with the Kingdom of Egypt in 1860 BC, this interactive map shows the Middle East being ruled by almost all of the noted dynasties in world history. A timeline follows the movie at the bottom of the screen and allows the viewer to put Middle Eastern imperialism in context. 1.5 minutes.

Teenagers and War in Israel and Palestine (In English.)

This short clip shows interviews with Israeli and Palestinian teenagers during a time of conflict. Few of those being interviewed follow in their parents’ footsteps and favor the opposition to peace, yet most of them agree that peace is what is most important. Descriptions of everyday life are devastating and many of these young teenagers wish to live a life without the fear of immediate death. 3:14 minutes.

The Sunni - Shiite Split

This clip explains the major differences between the two major denominations in Islam. 85% of Muslims identify as Sunni and 15% as Shiite – which denomination is correct in their beliefs? Through watching this video one will come to understand that there is no right and wrong within the Sunni and Shiite’s beliefs, but rather different interpretations about who Muhammad’s successors are. It’s important to know the major differences between these two groups to understand the conflict that is currently going on within Islam in the Middle East. 6:24 minutes.

DAM, "Born Here", Hebrew/Arabic with English subtitles

Hip-hop is taken to the Palestinian streets as the youth rises up to discuss the problems facing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “This is not racism, this is Zionism. Enough. This is ignorance atop ignorance…” the rappers of DAM blame both sides to the conflict, but claim all they want is for their schools and homes to not be surrounded by sewer. This is a heart-felt song coming from the youth of Palestine’s new generation. 4:12 minutes.

BANKSY : SANTAS GHETTO, PALESTINE

The hidden British graffiti artist gets his hands dirty in the Middle East. This clip shows the Banksy’s street-art in the Santas Ghetto of Palestine. Some of the inspiring, yet heart wrenching pieces include an armored peace dove, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a Playboy bunny, an angel bleeding from her heart, baby dolls as dove statues, and many more. 5:22 minutes.

ENCOUNTER POINT

Just Vision is a US based nonprofit that addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with film. Encounter point features a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother as they risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict. Their journeys lead them to the unlikeliest places to confront hatred within their communities. The film explores what drives them and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for grassroots solutions.

DAVID HOROWITZ, MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

This ten minute propaganda piece does an excellent job of portraying the myths and beliefs of the loony right wing. Never mind the facts in this clip; listen to the music and take in the images. Wow.

PING PONG

This is one of an extremely small number of videos that attempt to use humor to explain their ideas about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. God bless ‘em. I note with admiration that “humor” is, or should be, a linguistic relative of “human.”

Bonus clip:

Israelis 2000 Eurovision Song Contest Entry, Sameach http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHkkTqZ3InE&feature=related (At 2:49 the lead singer starts waving a Syrian flag. Yes, this is funny.)

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More Online Videos:

Mordechai Vanunu took the photos that proved Israel possessed upwards of 200 nuclear war heads in 1985.

After 18 years in jail, he was released under house arrest in 2004 forbidden by Israel to speak to ANY foreignors.

He spoke with this reporter in the spirit of Article 19 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Vanunu's 2 minute message to Senator Clinton regarding The Wall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgofYd9dh9A&eurl=http://www.change.org/ideas/view/being_hope_and_change

The full "30 Minutes with Vanunu"

Windows Media Player:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/video3/vanunu.htm

Google News:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8079102468952529881&q

"13 Minutes with Vanunu"

Windows Media:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/video4/

Google News:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2059606750949786468&hl=en

Learn More Vanunu Archives:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/

Posted by eileen fleming on 12/08/2008 @ 06:13AM PT
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May I humbly offer these film/ documentary suggestions: JENIN, JENIN and DEAD IN THE WATER: THE USS LIBERTY STORY(BBC).

Posted by Daniel Egan on 12/11/2008 @ 04:11PM PT
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I'm promoting an idea for creating lasting peace in the Middle East and the world. It still needs a lot of votes to make it into the second round. Please help provide a more hopeful vision and alternative to the endless spiral of violence escalating in the Middle East by casting your vote today. Thank you.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/israel_as_cornerstone_for_a_future_united_states_of_earth

Posted by Eli Williamson-... on 12/29/2008 @ 09:02AM PT
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The first Earthpledge proposal wasn't as clear as it needed to be which caused some confusion. Please take a closer look at this hopeful vision and alternative to the endless spiral of violence escalating in the Middle East and cast your vote today. Thank you.
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/israel_as_cornerstone_for_a_future_united_states_of_earth
Also, please check out my friend Josep's proposal for human unity:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/human_union

Posted by Eli Williamson-... on 12/30/2008 @ 08:22AM PT
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Author

Charles is a nonprofit professional with 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in Israel, Palestine and the U.S. For the past few years, he's been specializing in online organizing.