Film promotes Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation

By Zackary Holt
The Cavalier Daily
February 27, 2025

"University of Virginia’s Enabling Difficult Conversations series screened 'The Path Forward'… a documentary  directed by Julie Cohen, a Jewish American filmmaker and Academy Award-nominated director, and Palestinian American filmmaker Mo Husseini…

"The 39-minute documentary explores the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian activists working toward peace amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The film presents an alternative to polarizing rhetoric by amplifying the voices of Palestinians and Israeli Jews who oppose war and violence and advocate for peace and empathy…

"Cohen reflected on how much of the discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has felt unproductive, with many people retreating into ideological divisions and described the film as an attempt to create a more constructive space for conversation…

"Husseini reflected on the way media coverage tends to prioritize political and military developments over grassroots peace efforts. He argued that stories of collaboration rarely receive the same attention as those centered on violence or diplomatic breakdowns…

"Cohen explained that the documentary emerged from a personal search for voices engaging with the conflict in a constructive way. She said she was struck by how many activists were working toward coexistence, despite media coverage that often presents the conflict as defined by irreconcilable divisions."

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