Washington Report, September/October 2005, pages 48-49

Northern California Chronicle

“Occupied Minds” an Honest, Brave Account of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

By Elaine Pasquini

	“Occupied Minds” producers Jamal Dajani (l) and David Michaelis (Staff photo P. Pasquini).

SADNESS, humor, disgust, and a sense of injustice are only a few of the emotions evoked by the brilliant 58-minute documentary, “Occupied Minds: A Palestinian-Israeli Journey Beyond Hope and Despair.” The producers, Jamal Dajani, 48, and David Michaelis, 59—both born and raised in Jerusalem—became friends and colleagues while working together in San Francisco on Link TV’s “Mosaic” program, the Peabody Award-winning half-hour daily news show featuring unedited English-translated newscasts from Middle Eastern broadcasters (see July 2005 Washington Report, p. 54). Dajani, a Palestinian Muslim from East Jerusalem, is director of Arabic programming and the producer of “Mosaic.” David Michaelis, an Israeli Jew from West Jerusalem, is the satellite television station’s director of current affairs.

Two years ago the unlikely duo decided to return together to their hometown to show each other “their” city and explore not only the physical occupation suffered by Palestinians, but also the mindset of both sides. This encounter in the emotional arena of Jerusalem became the complex film that was viewed by some 150 guests on June 30 at San Francisco’s Delancey Street Screening Room.

The film begins as the two men stroll through the winding alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City. Dajani revisits childhood haunts and introduces Michaelis to his old friends. The Palestinian’s prominent Jerusalem family became refugees within their native city after the 1948 war erupted. As the fighting raged in and around Jerusalem’s Old City, Dajani’s family fled their home outside the Bab Nabi Doud (Zion Gate to Israelis) and eventually re-settled in the Wadi Joz district of Arab East Jerusalem. The home they fled and always wished to return to is now a Jewish yeshiva.

Later, Michaelis takes Dajani to his childhood home in the western side of the city—a home once owned by Palestinians, Dajani chides his colleague. Michaelis’ mother fled Germany in the 1920s fearful of the growing anti-Semitism, Michaelis recalls.

At one point in the film, the two separate. Dajani proceeds to Gaza to personally view the destruction wrought there by the Israeli army, while Michaelis monitors a Tel Aviv rally by right-wing Jewish Israelis—a group whose ideology he has fought against, he says, for the last 35 years. The two remain in constant touch via cell phone, and Michaelis apologizes for not being with his buddy in Gaza.

Together, they travel the West Bank to visit a Palestinian activist in Ramallah, a Jewish settler in Hebron, and Jenin resistance fighter Zakaria al-Zubeida. They also interview an Israeli doctor who was injured in a suicide bombing. In one riveting and humorous segment the filmmakers are thrown out of the home of former Jerusalem deputy mayor Meron Benvenisti. Later, the three meet in a neutral place for a more productive interview.   

The producers also visit the separation wall and film the humiliation and frustration of Palestinians at the numerous checkpoints. Particularly moving is their conversation with a farmer who lost part of his land—and his livelihood—when the wall was built through his property. A more hopeful segment of the film features an interview with an Israeli soldier who discusses the Break the Silence movement.

In the question-and-answer session, an Arab Israeli audience member asked why he was left with a feeling of hopelessness. “The film was a sliver of time,” responded Dajani—and what was filmed was the situation on the ground during the 14-month span of their visits in 2003 and 2004.

This must-see film is, in the words of Dajani, “a narrative not heard in the mass media,” and, added Michaelis, “the story you haven’t heard before.”

For more information on the film and complete Link TV program scheduling and Internet streaming, visit <www.linktv.org>.

Lafayette Lawyer’s Nonprofit Gives “Sense of Hope” to Afghan Villagers

Budd Mackenzie with Lalander village children on his April visit to Afghanistan (Photo Walied Osman).

Two years ago, on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and some 17 months after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, Lafayette, CA attorney Budd Mackenzie was pondering ways that he and members of his Northern California community could help victims of these wars. Two weeks later, perusing a Parade magazine article on schools built in Afghanistan with funds raised by Greg Mortenson, founder of the Montana-based Central Asia Institute, Mackenzie realized he, too, could raise money and build schools.  

At San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club on June 29, two months after returning from his first trip to Afghanistan, Mackenzie discussed his experience of raising funds and building a school in Lalander, Afghanistan, and other projects to improve the lives of Afghan villagers.

After initially working through the Central Asia Institute, Mackenzie came to the conclusion that, in addition to building a school—“a long term solution”—he also wanted to address the community’s “short term needs.” To this end, he founded the Trust in Education (TIE), a grass roots, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization to provide educational and economic opportunities in Afghanistan.

Since May 2003, TIE has raised $25,000 and built a secular school in Lalander, 15 miles south of Kabul. The school opened in March with 140 students of all ages, including 40 girls.

In addition, in order to help the many Afghan widows struggling to support themselves and their children, TIE recently established a sewing program for 25 women. Because the skills taught provide the only means of support for many women, Mackenzie said, the classes are in great demand and the program has been expanded to include 50 women. “The state of women’s rights is a stand alone compelling reason to become involved,” Mackenzie told his audience.

The group has also arranged for a medical doctor to travel to the village and treat patients who are unable to travel to Kabul for medical aid. TIE pays the $3 home office visit fee for each patient.

Mackenzie enthusiastically discussed TIE’s new micro loan program. “It’s not charity,” he exclaimed. “It tells the people ‘we believe in you.’” During his April trip to Lalander, Mackenzie made 55 TIE loans of $200 each to men chosen by village leaders to plant crops or buy livestock.

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mackenzie shared with his audience photos taken during his trip. Showing a picture of a terraced hillside, barren due to lack of water, he explained that TIE has arranged for an expert from Colorado to travel to the region in August to work on a water project and introduce a bio-intensive farming technique which will help 51 families tend crops.

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most heavily mined countries—estimates range from 10 million to 200 million landmines scattered throughout its 29 provinces. The unexploded ordnance are a major obstacle in rebuilding the country and reclaiming the land, Mackenzie noted.

In addition to helping the villagers, the attorney is initiating exchanges between Afghan and American schoolchildren. More than 300,000 coins have been collected from schools and businesses in Lafayette and other East Bay communities as part of the “Change for Change” program. Through his presentations, children have become enthused to help their Afghan counterparts. On seeing a photo of the newly opened school, Mackenzie related with a smile, one young student exclaimed, “Is that OUR school?” Seeing how their change made a difference inspires these youngsters, he noted. But the California schoolchildren were also distressed that there were no swings or playgrounds at the school, so TIE members are planning to rectify that situation and hope soon to build a playground. For more information, or to make a donation, visit TIE’s Web site: <www.trustineducation.org> or contact TIE at P. O. Box 936, Lafayette, CA 94549 or by phone at (925) 299-2011.

Flag Raised at City Hall to Celebrate Egyptian National Day

	San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (l) with Egyptian Consul General Abderahman Salaheldin (Staff photo P. Pasquini).

Under a spectacular sunny sky, Egypt’s red, white and black tricolor flew briefly over San Francisco’s City Hall on July 22 to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the Egyptian revolution. Aided by Consul General Abderahman Salaheldin, Mayor Gavin Newsom hoisted the flag on the balcony outside his office surrounded by some 50 dignitaries and the consul’s 18-year-old twin sons, Khalid and Waleed.

After presenting Consul Salaheldin with a certificate proclaiming Egyptian Heritage Day, the mayor praised the long-standing special relationship between Egypt and the United States. The diplomat thanked Newsom for his support and invited the mayor to lead a trade and business mission to Egypt. San Francisco’s top official enthusiastically embraced the idea. “I’m ready to go,” the 38-year-old mayor exclaimed.

Later that evening, Consul General and Mrs. Salaheldin hosted a reception at the Egyptian Consulate in further celebration of Egyptian National Day. The festivities were tempered, however, by the consul’s announcement of three explosions in Egypt’s south Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Na’ama Bay just hours earlier that killed 88 people and injured some 100. Many guests had already heard news reports of the attacks, and local television stations also descended on the consulate to interview Salaheldin. The consul lamented the terror attacks and reaffirmed his country’s long-standing commitment to peace.