Palestine 36

PALESTINE 36

Tension in Nablus! News!

Oi, you! Identification!

Yes, of course.

British crack down on protests.

Sir Amir?

Sir Amir?

Sir?

Sir Amir?

Pardon. I thought...

I'm happy to see you! Come in.

Don't be shy! Come in!

Tell me, how are things?

I'm writing about the situation in the villages.

How are people feeling? The mood?

Khuloud! Leave the poor boy alone.

- (In Arabic) What? - What are you wearing?

- Want the neighbours to talk? - Let them.

- More than they already do? - Also, that is mine.

Ah?

Wearing it inspires my writing.

Yes, inspires you...

I know, my darling Ahmad.

Don't be annoying! Stop it!

Can I get Ahmad Canaani inspired?

Now you remember Ahmad?

Ladies and gentlemen,

a new page in history is written today.

The first radio broadcast in Palestine,

and only the second in the entire Arab world after Cairo,

begins today here in Ramallah.

I now have great pleasure

in asking His Excellency

the High Commissioner Sir Arthur Wauchope

to inaugurate the Palestine Broadcasting Service.

Good morning. Thank you so much for coming.

Those of you who are still awake.

The new broadcasting service in Palestine

will not be concerned with politics.

Its main object

will be the spread of knowledge and culture.

First, there are thousands of farmers in this country.

Fellaheen.

Now, I hope we will find ways and means

to help these farmers

and explain the advantages

of various forms of co-operation.

Our broadcasting service

will endeavour to stimulate musical life in Palestine,

so that we may see both Oriental and Western music

grow in strength side by side,

each true to its own tradition.

- (Applause) - Thank you.

This is the part

where they educate and elevate us.

The moment we've all been waiting for.

This...

...is Jerusalem calling.

The Voice of Jerusalem.

This is Radio Jerusalem.

- (Man) Bravo! - (Applause)

'Beyond the blue waters of the Mediterranean,

'millions of Jews all over the world

'were promised a national home in Palestine

'by Britain's Lord Balfour.

'As Germany and other nations increase their persecutions,

'treat them as pariahs and outcasts,

'the Jews are turning more and more to their Promised Land.'

If we were to slice the pipe open,

we could see both Haifa and Iraq at the same time, right?

Right?

Maybe.

Careful.

Why are there fences around the colony?

And why do they come to live here?

Their countries don't want them.

But why?

I don't know.

Why don't they wear trousers?

Let's go home.

Yusuf!

What did you see today in the city?

I saw streetlights

and big buildings...

...and so many people. Hundreds.

How's the Sir's car?

When will you teach me to drive?

When your mother lets you go to the city.

I will go and never come back.

Did you bring...

A promise is a promise.

Afra!

Come here.

I need you here.

Not going back and forth to the city.

I know where I am most useful.

Me too. By my side.

Tensions are rising between us and the settlers.

Sakhina village had their lands confiscated.

Apparently squabbling city folk are more interesting.

It's the same king on all of them?

He loves a woman no one approves of.

But why?

She's older than him.

- So? - Also, she is divorced.

Oh.

Here you go, Father.

Son.

It's enough for today.

Come.

Pass the wine, son.

It's knotted just like sheep wool.

Afra, come sweetheart.

Good night.

Stop that, you.

Why do you go to Jerusalem so often?

I have a job, man.

You don't tell us much about it.

Perhaps there's a romantic reason.

What would a city woman want with a peasant?

Maybe he reads poetry to her?

'My eyes fill with tears

'Because of a woman from the city

'I hope she notices me

'And remembers me after so many years'

No wonder nothing gets done when men are left on their own.

May God forgive you!

Come on!

There's still two shipments for loading.

The day is over.

Who's going to stay for overtime?

Who wants to work extra?

- I will. I want the work. - Me.

The Jewish boys may be more efficient,

but you lads, you never let me down.

Grab the barrel!

Who's responsible for the shipment?

Check the documents!

For J. Kaplan...

...in Tel Aviv.

The British won't take action.

They won't hold Kaplan responsible, nor anyone else.

Thirty-three barrels of weapons.

Why do you think they are arming themselves?

Four factories fired all the Palestinian workers this month.

My friends, your country and jobs are being given away.

They're replacing us with Jewish labour.

Either we stand up for ourselves

or we sit back and watch.

The choice is yours.

Come on, Khalid.

Satisfied?

Thank God.

We could use more men.

I work, and I send money to my family.

And when you can't?

God provides.

You'd make a strong fighter.

I don't want to fight.

None of us do.

Next.

Next.

I worked extra hours.

No overtime. Move on.

They asked us to work overtime.

Next.

- Get out of here. - I'm talking.

I want to talk to him.

- Get out of here. - Get your hands off me!

- Khalid! - (Groans)

The government refuses our request to demonstrate.

While the Jewish workers are allowed to.

They get higher pay

and normal working hours, too.

And days off!

- They have a stronger union. - Half the men were laid off.

How do we feed our families?

We strike!

The choice is yours.

The choice is theirs.

Either bread...

...or bullets.

Strike.

JOIN THE GENERAL STRIKE

Excuse me, can I have it when you finish?

- Here you go, sir. - God bless you.

How do I look?

Do I look stately?

Someone important?

It suits you, sir.

Do you have something nice to wear?

The Muslim Association needs new members.

Get yourself a nice suit.

- No, no sir! - Yusuf!

Get yourself a good suit.

- Full strike, people. - (Door opens)