NEW YORK (Reuters) - A new film about a meeting between twomothers over the deaths of their daughters in Jerusalem, a NewYork play
set in the West Bank and a ceramic art exhibit areeach being hailed for getting Israelis and Palestinians to talkto each other.
"To Die In Jerusalem," which premiered in the United Statesthis week after showing at international film festivals, takesa personal look at the Middle East conflict through the mothersof Palestinian Ayat al-Akhras and Israeli Rachel Levy.
Both girls made headlines in 2002 due to their similar ageand appearance when al-Akhras, 18, set off a suicide bomb in aJerusalem market, killing herself and Levy, 17.
"It shows very clearly the difficulties and the bridgesthat need to be built," said the documentary's maker, HillaMedalia, 30, who observed the four-hour meeting between themothers that forms the climax of the film. "I really hope itcreates the dialogue that we need."
Medalia, who grew up in Israel, held discussions betweenIsraeli and Palestinian students in New York after a screeningthis week and plans to do the same elsewhere. Her film will beshown throughout the United States on cable television channelHBO starting on Thursday.
"To Die In Jerusalem" offers no solution to theArab-Israeli conflict, focusing instead on a story that"reflects a reality, a microcosm of the situation," Medaliasaid.
'A LOT OF DIALOGUE'
"Masked," by Israeli playwright Ilan Hatsor, brings to thestage the story of three Palestinian brothers during the firstIntifada in 1990. It has gained praise for crossing boundariesof both sides of the conflict and recently had its New York runextended indefinitely.
"It proves that you don't have to be on the other side inorder to feel sympathy," Hatsor told Reuters in a telephoneinterview from his home in Israel.
"Masked" debuted in 1992 -- the only Israeli play to solelypresent Palestinian characters -- before moving to Germany,Britain, Austria, Switzerland and Australia.
Hatsor, 43, said many Arabs had told him the Palestinianperspective was so convincing they found it difficult tobelieve he was Jewish.
Set in a West Bank butcher shop, "Masked" is also beingperformed in Arabic in Jaffa, Israel.
"I am not that innocent to believe it can change realitybut it has created a lot of dialogue," said Hatsor, who hasworked with Palestinians on projects since he wrote the play."Every collaboration between an Israeli and Palestinian isblessed, but it is very difficult."
PEACE DIALOGUE
Organizers of "Offering Reconciliation," an exhibit ofceramic bowls showcasing the works of 135 Israeli andPalestinian artists, say art can spread a message that Israelisand Palestinians want to end violence.
Featuring prominent artists including Aliza Olmert, thewife of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the show wasdeveloped by 500 Israeli and Palestinian families who all havelost relatives in the conflict.
It is moving from New York to Chicago, where proceeds froman auction of the bowls on November 2 will go to educationalprograms in Israeli schools to create a peace dialogue.
Bidding can be done online atwww.readysetauction.com/auctions/parentscircle/home.
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