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In October 2000, 13 Israeli-Palestinians (Palestinians who are part of the Palestinian minority inside the state of Israel) were killed in clashes with the Israeli police while demonstrating in solidarity with the Palestinian Al-Aqsa Intifada going on in the occupied territories. These clashes started in the Wadi Ara region, where they were the most violent. Wadi Ara is a region inhabited by Jews and Palestinians who live in close geographical proximity but in separate communities. Since the events of October 2000, the distance and segregation between the two communities has grown even more.

In March 2004, a group of Israeli-Palestinian and Jewish parents from the Wadi Ara area met for the first time with the vision of establishing a joint bi-lingual and bi-national ArabJewish school in the region. When we were invited to film the first meeting, we had very little faith in the project: The idea of opening a mixed school in a Palestinian town, in a region still heavily traumatized by the events of October 2000, seemed very improbable. To our great surprise, we were proven wrong. Despite the controversy, the mutual suspicion and the racist sentiments, despite the legal battles with the Ministry of Education and many other traps and obstacles, the school has opened its doors and so far it appears to be an amazing success.

However, the difficulties that made us doubt the whole idea never disappeared and continue challenging the existence of the school. Many parents fear that their children are losing their cultural identity in a multicultural school. As a reaction to that fear some parents took their children out of the school, while others try to strengthen their children's identity, making the encounter of the two cultures even more difficult.

Contrary to many films on the subject of the Israeli Palestinian conflict, which leave a persistent aftertaste of despair and pessimism, “Bridge Over The Wadi” offers a very realistic alternative: a hundred children,  Arab and Jewish, growing up side by side. A hundred children, whose number and influence in the Israeli society are bound to grow, proving that it is not impossible to live together. As opposed to the parents, who do not always bare their souls and are careful not to sound racist or naïve, the children reflect the reality exactly as it is: challenging and difficult, but the same time so simple and beautiful.

Watch the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBeOFAVWOzc

Barak Heymann has been directing and producing documentaries for TV and cinema for more than 20 years. Heymann Brothers Films, the independent film company led by Barak and his brother Tomer, has produced over 30 documentaries, some as international co-productions. Their films have premiered in numerous festivals worldwide, such as Berlinale, IDFA, and Hot Docs, where they have won prestigious awards. 

This event is hosted by the Program in Jewish Studies and the Israel-Palestine Endowed Professor and supported by the departments of History, Religious Studies, Education, and English.