Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site mhuxm.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!mhuxm!abeles From: abeles@mhuxm.UUCP (abeles) Newsgroups: net.movies Subject: The Little Drummer Girl Message-ID: <264@mhuxm.UUCP> Date: Mon, 5-Nov-84 18:15:02 EST Article-I.D.: mhuxm.264 Posted: Mon Nov 5 18:15:02 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 6-Nov-84 05:25:23 EST Distribution: net Organization: Bell Communications Research, Murray Hill, NJ Lines: 31 I read the book and saw the movie two days ago. Interestingly, a number of reviewers have said that they found the movie to be even-handed in its portrayal of the Palestinian-Arab and Israeli causes. It's true I have my own sympathies, but I found the movie (& book) to be somewhat pro-Israeli. Why? Because (1) The Israelis are out to stop terrorism which has been repeated all over Europe against innocent Israelis. This is a noble cause. Their enemies are killing innocents. There is no justification for that. (2) The treatment of the Palestinian-Arabs in the movie is for the most part humane (on the part of the Israelis). This is in contrast to the brutal beating sustained by the young Israeli spying on the terrorist training camp in Lebanon. (3) The character of the Israelis is depicted as thoughtful and serious. They don't wish to kill--you can see that it really hurts them. They never joke about what they are doing; they are never triumphant except in a formal manner. To them it's a dirty job that someone has to do. (4) The Israelis present their argument in a persuasive way during their persuasion of Charlie. While it is true that the Palestinians feel hatred for Israelis (Palestinian-Arabs, that is--the Palestinian Jews aren't complaining), the Israelis really have nowhere else to go. Since the current world politics as in the UN seems not to recognize the legitimate needs of Israel, I would score this as a pro-Israel point.