Encounter Point (NR)

synopsis

A clash of civilizations: suicide bombers and kidnappers on one side, spewing hateful, nihilistic rhetoric, and one of the world's most powerful armies on the other, reining down its massive force to subdue the local population and maintain its occupation. These are the archetypes that characterize coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Caught in the crossfire are thousands of Palestinian and Israeli civilians who reject violence and who seek to build a secure, peaceful future for their children. Reverberations from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are felt worldwide. It is perhaps the most divisive, polarizing and documented political issue of our time. "Encounter Point" moves beyond sensational, dogmatic and canned images to tell the story of an Israeli settler, a convicted Palestinian fighter, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian ex-prisoner who sacrifice their safety, public standing, communities and homes in order to press for a grassroots movement for nonviolence and peace. "Encounter Point" explores what drives these and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for peace. Audiences are left with a sense that the gulf between Israelis and Palestinians is at once bridgeable and tremendously wide.