Planet Israel Lands in Hastings

Director Gillian Mosely speaks to a packed Stade Hall after the screening of her film Planet Israel

On Tuesday 20 October we held a sold-out screening of the film Planet Israel at Stade Hall in Hastings, followed by a Q&A afterwards with director Gillian Mosely.

The film is Gillian’s attempts to understand why Israeli Jews have consistently supported the shocking levels of violence and destruction being carried out by the Israeli military in Gaza.

British American Gillian is herself Jewish, descended from numerous famous religious and community leaders whose services to Judaism have been documented for more than 1200 years.

For this deeply personal film she travelled to Israel and interviewed experts, historians, psychotherapists and ordinary citizens to understand the reason what has led so many to support the ongoing genocide.

The film explored many issues including the weaponisation of historical trauma, the rise of religious Zionism, the role of the media in suppressing information, methods employed by an authoritarian government, the historic roots of the state of Israel as well as the dehumanisation of Palestinians in Israeli society.

During the discussion afterwards, contributors said the film was powerful, upsetting but also helpful in expanding their understanding and offering fresh insights into what we are are witnessing today.

We are grateful to Gillian and her team for making this compelling and important film and especially thankful she was able to join us on the night.

If you missed this event, and wish to see the film or arrange a screening, the producers can be contacted at planetisrael.co.uk

At the Q&A after the screening of Planet Israel the audience shared their reflections and contributions.