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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
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Organization: Bell Communications Research, Murray Hill, NJ
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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.