Rating: 
Summary: Informational and attempted objectivity
Review: Very well done exposition on the Political aspects of the
Arab Israeli conflict. The political leaders on the Arab and Israeli side and the peace making USA are given
insightfull portraits.
I guess no documentary can change a view on such a partisan
issue as the Arab Israeli conflict however this documentary
will add insight as to how the other side feels
Rating: 
Summary: Good as far as it goes, but definately pro-israeli
Review: This documentary "only pretends" to be unbiased. It is still valuable, but should contain at least another hour to include Israeli misconduct that is conspicuously absent here.
For starters, the beginning really glosses over the fact that theft of the land now called Israel was accomplished primarily through Jewish / Zionist terrorism and that several of Israel's first Prime Ministers were wanted terrorists by the British government. There is a segment dealing with this in the first 30 -45 minutes of the documentary, but it is exceptionally thin, especially on relevant facts; and very heavy on "man-on-the-street" accounts of extremely isolated incidents that are of no great significance. The film never addresses the issue of what right did the UN have in the first place in voting on the disposition of Palestinian land, and not the people who were living there. Why didn't they vote to give the Jews a block of land in Germany, or say, Texas. There is some good information on this era in the documentary, but it is overwhelmed by the fluff, lack of balance, and a great deal of time being devoted to personal accounts of events that have no great overall importance.
In the latter sections, there is virtually no mention of Israeli misdeeds during the Oslo period. The documentary never really addresses the issue of settlements except in very brief and superficial terms. The issues surrounding these settlements are astounding & appalling; but no illumination is ever given on this crucial topic. Not once do I remember seeing any mention or coverage of the Israeli policy of "bulldozing" Palestinian homes and buildings. Nor again any mention of how the Israeli's have taken over water rights in the West Bank in an uneven & patently unfair manner. Nor is there any mention of how the Israeli's have created "bypass roads" to make Jews first class inhabitants and herd the Palestinian inhabitants into ever more numerous and smaller concentration camps. Likewise, the Camp David episode was given the traditional pro-Israeli spin only.
Overall, I have to say that this is mostly a Pro-Israeli whitewash, but unfortunately it is the best thing like it that is available and is certainly a very valuable historical primer. If I didn't own, I would certainly buy it again.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Documenatry!
Review: This is a two-part video: the first covers the Israeli fight for independence and the successive Arab-Israeli Wars from 1948; the second covers many of the political activities towards peace since 1980.PLUSSES:
1) Refreshingly unbiased towards either point of view, merely presents facts. 2) Covers many things not commonly known about the Arab-Israeli conflict (stuff you won't find on the news). 3) Pulls no punches with its facts; the sins of both sides are laid bare with no buttering up. 4) Chock full o' interviews with many principles of the conflict's history (leaders, policymakers, etc.). I thought this was one of the best documentaries I've ever seen, and that it has something to offer if you sympathize with either side of the conflict or if you just want to be better informed about it.
Rating:
Summary: Even-handed presentation of the clash of two rights
Review: After viewing the tape, you will have a better understanding of the conflict, but will have no idea what can be done to resolve it. This is simply a situation where two rights, as in right thing to happen, collide. After the horrific destruction of the holocaust, as much a continuation of persecution as an aberration, the Jewish people do have the right to a nation. Unfortunately, it was born out of the displacement of another people, who also have the right to a national identity.
After fifty years of struggle, there is some hope for resolution, and there is no more fitting scene than one of the last events on the tape. A terminally ill King Hussein of Jordan, bald and gaunt from chemotherapy, leaving his hospital bed and standing up to make a plea for peace and reconciliation between Arab and Jew, seems to sum up the history of the conflict.
One of the most amazing points was the story of a Jewish attack on an Arab village by a paramilitary organization in 1948. Despite the protests of the local Arabs that no rapes took place, the Arab information minister broadcast that Arab women had been raped by the Jewish fighters. These reports led to panic and many Arabs who otherwise would have stayed in their homes fled and became part of the continuing plight of refugees. That event is typical of what has occurred in the decades since 1948.
The most powerful scene in the film is when the PLO representatives and Israel finally sit down to talk peace. While you can question the wisdom of the actions, the Palestinians were historically accurate in their opening remarks. The Israelis had long held the position that they do not negotiate with terrorists. In one opening statement, a Palestinian representative holds up a picture of Israeli prime minister Shamir that was part of a British wanted poster. Shamir was one of several Jews wanted for terrorist acts against British rule. The looks on the faces of the Israeli delegation is unforgettable.
All sides of the conflict are presented in as even-handed a manner as possible. One side that is often overlooked is the conflicts between the Arabs and how Israel has acted to support Arabs. The prime example of this was when Syrian tanks crossed the border with Jordan in an attempt to overthrow King Hussein. While the Syrians claim that they were going to pull back anyway, it was the clear threat of Israel attacking Syria in support of Jordan that caused them to back down.
No one knows how the conflict between Israel and the Arabs will resolve itself. Great progress has been made with the signings of peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and Israel and Jordan. The final and most difficult obstacle remains the Palestinians and it most likely will take at least another fifty years before that is settled. This is an excellent documentary about that conflict, one that will educate you on many of the political and social forces that continue to drive it in so many directions.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and unbiased. An enjoyment to watch.
Review: Outstanding film on the birth of Israel as a nation and on the various wars. In my view, the best section is on the negotiation efforts throughout these years: you feel like you were there.
What is very well done is that almost all of the front players over the years are interviewed, so that you get a first-hand feel of their body language and whether or not to trust each of them. Having travelled to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, I found it almost incredible how much this film helped me to focus on the people and the issues, regardless of my likes and dislikes (which we all have, don't we?)
Five hours is a long time to watch, but it is well wortwhile and you can see it in two or three sittings
Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting! Well Done.
Review: I like the scene selection built into this documentary. You can use it to navigate to different significant events in the history of the two nations. I really enjoyed watching this. It explains allot behind what has lead up to the events that are all over the news today.
Rating:
Summary: Unbiased and Informative
Review: To get the most out of this video or DVD set, one must be able to approach the subject without preconceptions, without beliefs that exist in the lack of understanding, and without bias towards a particular religion. Biblical interpretations of who had what first along with English interpretations of Arabic text only polarize an issue that needs no more polarization. The divine right to a land that has been shared for thousands of years has led to the murder of thousands of innocent people. The exiling of, the discrimination against, and the murder of the members of a particular religious group undermines the foundation of almost every religion on Earth. The 50 Years War gives us the rare opportunity to see the middle east conflict for what it is, and not for what it is thought to be. It is a war of deep-seeded hatred that is fueled by the biased comments, discriminatory actions, and unfair peace brokering of the people and nations who have involved themselves either directly or indirectly in the conflict. It is a conflict that is made perpetual by closed minds, political agendas, and uneducated youth who seem determined to keep the conflict going. You will now be able to hear and see the stories, the interviews, and the actions of the men and women who have shaped the development of the conflict over the last 50+ years, and take what you hear and see and apply it objectively to your own beliefs. The 50 Years War removes you from the stagnant quagmire of narrow mindedness and allows you to progress your way through an issue that is often misinterpreted and made confusing by propaganda. Interpretation is a delicate matter. The 50 Years War treats it as such by not succumbing to biased views. Too bad this series doesn't say more about the deception that came out of Oslo.
Rating:
Summary: I Learned a Lot from this Video
Review: I wasn't knowledgeable about the roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict but this video explains everything. The first part is a very interesting account of how Israel came to be a country and how it won territory in the wars it fought with it's neighbors. There are interviews with many people who were involved in the conflicts including Israelis, Russians, Americans, Palestinians, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians and more.
The second part is very repetitive. More conflicts and an unending series of peace negotiations which go nowhere. Is there any end in sight for this conflict? Only time will tell.
Rating:
Summary: Good Primer That Excites You To Learn More
Review: This DVD set is a must for anyone interested in the ... intifada. Unfortunately, both sides have produced their share of propoganda with Israel being the more successful of the two in having its version being heard. However, the true historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complicated and deserves deliberate research and reading. This PBS documentary provides a quick review (5 hours) of the historical events leading from the end of the British Mandate in 1947 to the ascendancy of Netanyahu in the late 1990's. Most importantly, it is about as unbiased as is possible (which will probably anger many supporters of Israel). I watched the entire 5 hours in one sitting. It filled in gaps while parading many film and phtographic images I had yet to view. Afterwards, I ordered several more books from Amazon.com as my interest in the topic was piqued.
Rating:
Summary: 50 Years War - Jews and Arabs
Review: Excellent documentary. Well researched and reported in an evan-handed manner. This movie should be required viewing for high school / college students.
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