As Israel approaches the 30th anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination with a memorial in Tel Aviv, and the Tokyo Film Festival prepares to debut *Golem in Pompeii*, François Picard sits down with the esteemed Israeli director Amos Gitai on the somber occasion of the second anniversary of the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Gitai delivers a powerful and urgent plea: “Peace is not optional,” he asserts. “Without it, we face devastation and loss. We must discover a path to coexistence.” For nearly fifty years, Gitai has chronicled the intricate layers, wonders, and vulnerabilities of Israeli society-not only through his cinematic work but also as an engaged activist and eyewitness. Israel currently grapples with profound anguish and the complex duality of being both victim and aggressor. According to Gitai, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict stands apart from other regional disputes. Unlike tensions with Iran or Lebanon, which lack territorial claims, this conflict centers on shared land. “This is their homeland as much as ours,” he emphasizes. “We need to forge a peaceful vision for the Middle East’s future.” Instead of succumbing to inward-looking tribal sorrow and collective trauma, Gitai urges Israelis and Palestinians alike to “empathize with the pain of the other.” Reflecting on a 1982 interview with Bassam Shakaa, the Palestinian mayor of Nablus who survived an assassination attempt that cost him both legs, Gitai recalls asking whether Shakaa felt hopeful or despairing. “His response stayed with me,” Gitai shares. “He said, ‘Amos, pessimism is a luxury we cannot afford.'” This conviction underscores Gitai’s belief that history is shaped not merely by force or wealth but by the power of ideas. “This is precisely where culture plays its vital role.”
Amos Gitai Urges a Bold New Path to Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians
