Letter to Palestinian and Lebanese filmmakers from Israeli filmmakers

This letter was written to coincide with the opening of the Arab Film Biennial in Paris 22 July 2006We, the undersigned Israeli filmmakers, greet the Arab filmmakers who have gathered in Paris for the Arab Film Biennial. Through you, we wish to convey a message of camaraderie and solidarity with our Lebanese and Palestinian colleagues who are currently besieged and bombarded by our country's army.

We unequivocally oppose the brutality and cruelty of Israeli policy, which has reached new heights in recent weeks. Nothing justifies the continued occupation, closure, and oppression in Palestine. Nothing justifies the bombing of civilians and the destruction of infrastructures in Lebanon and Gaza.

Allow us to tell you that your films, which we try to see and circulate among us, are extremely important in our eyes. They enable us to know and understand you better. Thanks to these films, the men, women, and children who suffer in Gaza, Beirut, and everywhere else our army exercises its violence - have names and faces. We would like to thank you and encourage you to keep on filming, despite the difficulties.

For our part, we will continue to express through our films, with our raised voices, and in our personal actions our vehement opposition to the occupation, and we will continue to express our desire for freedom, justice, and equality among all the peoples of the region.

Nurith Aviv, Ilil Alexander, Adi Arbel, Yael Bartana, Philippe Bellaiche, Simone Bitton, Michale Boganim, Amit Breuer, Shai Carmeli-Pollack, Sami S. Chetrit, Danae Elon, Anat Even, Jack Faber, Avner Fainguelernt, Ari Folman, Gali Gold, BZ Goldberg, Sharon Hamou, Amir Harel, Avraham Heffner, Rachel Leah Jones, Dalia Karpel, Avi Kleinberger, Elonor Kowarsky, Edna Kowarsky, Philippa Kowarsky, Ram Loevi, Avi Mograbi, Jud Neeman, David Ofek, Iris Rubin, Abraham Segal, Nurith Shareth, Julie Shlez, Eyal Sivan, Yael Shavit, Eran Torbiner, Osnat Trabelsi, Daniel Waxman, Keren Yedaya