Witness - Journey Home - 21 Jan 09 - Part 1

The troubled past of Israel's birth as a nation and the devastating consequences it's had in the region frequently make headlines around the world.

But the reality of what six decades of displacement has meant for the day to day lives of those who have lived there rarely makes the news.

In his moving and deeply personal film Al Jazeeras news editor, Awad Joumaa went on a journey spanning two continents and three countries to take his father back to the place he was born, but has never known.

Category:

News & Politics

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• al
• jazeera
• witness
• documentary
• awad
• joumaa
• palestine
• israel
• conflict
• lebanon
• return
• displaced
• rageh
• omaar

[seinfeld1123]

I pray that one day the Palestinians get some land where ever it may be, where you can travel freely, grow food, barter, trade, and I pray even more that the children get to be children such as playing without the sound of bombs or guns, that they have somewhere to learn, somewhere quiet to study religion I pray I pray I pray for that era to come, Oh please O great masters of our world, Jesus, Mohamed, all the Buddha's, Krishna, Mithra, Guru Nanak, great masters of Sant Mat, you all Hear US

[seinfeld1123]

very moving.

and what really sticks out to me, I dont know much about israel, mid east tensions, only that I know since the 1990's and onwards im not aware of the history. but the Jewish people treated the Palestinians just like the Gestapo treated them, I mean The Israelis of all people should know better its the Israelis. People think terrorists, but all they want is their own country, the right to walk without fear, without needing a gun, im a 28 year old man and Im crying for you all!

[Muslim4Lyfe64]

death to Israel all the way.

[swb338]

I don't want to hurt anyone who's family went through this dispossesion and loss, but are you aware that 50% of the Jews in Israel are not European but were displaced from their ancestral homes in Arab countries like Yemen, Iraq, Libya,etc...where they lived for thousands of years and used to form an integral part of their communities? Their expulsions and disposession is totally forgotten because they were welcomed and integrated into Israel but only Jordan did the same for the Palestinians.

[swb338]

I also want for the Palestinians to be made whole but I can't accept the analogies to the Holocaust, the rising anti-semetism in the world - people telling Jews to get back in the oven, or analogies to the former South African government.

[Pal4evr]

Thank you Al Jazzera for making these emotional and painful videos for everyone to watch that does not know the TRUTH about Palestine and Nakba. I wish every human being would see these. To watch can effect people even more than reading about it. I only wish my new US administation would watch videos like these!!!

[chatemaa]

Wow ! this is the same story of my father! Living a life dreaming everyday that one day he can go home, he is now 71 and I pray everday that he will get that chance. It is so sad to know that in this day and age we still have to fight for basic freedom rights, this is a story about all Palestinian  mothers and fathers. We need to change this by educating the world and mostley ourselves to stand up for our rights as humans that deserve their own land, security and happiness.

[orangitan89]

Hebron 1929 - selective memory doesn't help anyone.

[orangitan89]

This is a re-run.

[0720541589]

Where did you hear that? There was no war between palastinians and jews untill 1948 when Israel was created and many palastinians were expelled from their homes by jewish Militias.

[covertcovenant]

Indeed too few people seem interested. People only seem to care when this traumatic stuff knocks on their doors. People miscalculate though, because once this action is permitted, and bullys are allowed to roam free, this will grow worse and worse and affect all eventually!

[covertcovenant]

How sad....