The Prime Ministers: Soldiers and Peacemakers

Stories From the Past that Put the Present In Perspective

Rabbi Yaakov Thompson

The Prime Ministers is a new documentary from Moriah Films that opens in South Florida November 6^th. Based on the book by the late Yehuda Avner, the movie covers much of the unknown history of the Rabin and Begin years. Personal insights come from Avner’s career with both Prime Ministers and include his account of Rabin’s second term before his murder. The mid-70’s were fateful years for Israel, the first blooming of peace with Egypt, Entebbe, and Camp David. They were also the years that, at times strained the relationship between Israel and the American government. Carter wanted the return to the Green Line. Reagan wanted Israel out of Lebanon. They were also years of promise- I was living in Jerusalem when Sadat made his historic visit- it was an amazing event that many felt was the first step in the long road to real peace. Now, almost 40 years later, we look back and see that expectations were too high but there are still lessons to be learned.

As you view the film containing much footage seen for the first time you are drawn from the past to the present. One can’t help but compare “then” to “now.” That is why I think this film is more important at this moment than even its producers could have imagined. The current Israeli government is still faced with the same basic issue as those years in the 70’s: the challenge of trying to talk peace when Israel is under siege daily, the public and private dialogue with an American government that has its own agenda, and the struggle to protect the citizens of Israel.

Today’s situation is much more dire- the Iran issue, ISISs’ daily advance closer to Israel, and the new media war against Israel make the problems of the 70’s almost tame. The real power of The Prime Ministers is its power to evoke the courage of the past. As its subtitle suggests, the Prime Minister of Israel must be both a soldier and a peacemaker. It should renew our support for Israel’s government that must cope every day with attacks but, nonetheless, never give up on the possibility for peace. In retrospect that was the theme of the Rabin and Begin years and now that retrospective can help us put the present in perspective.

The Prime Ministers is a powerful dose of history- it is the strongest medicine- it helps us understand how the present was shaped and inspires us to shape the future.

The Prime Ministers: Soldiers and Peacemakers opens November 6^th at O Cinema in Miami Shores, AMC in Aventura and Sunset Place, and at Movies of Del Ray and Lake Worth.