The Prime Ministers: Soldiers and Peacemakers directed by Richard Trask; Moriah Films; USA; 2015; 114 minutes; English, Hebrew; English Subtitles, Documentary; Southern California Films; to be shown twice at the Reading Cinemas 14, at 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, at 5 p.m., Sunday February 7, and at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11; and once the Edwards San Marcos Stadium 18, 1180 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 9.
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — This film is a nearly two-hour long history lesson, leavened with news footage and with some humor, detailing a half century of Israel’s relationships with its Arab neighbors from pre-Independence to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Yehuda Avner, the narrator, was in a good position to tell the story because he as a speech writer, advisor, and confidante, was trusted and employed in the governments of such political rivals as Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin of the Labor Party, and Menachem Begin of the Likud.
Clearly Avner, now deceased, was a man of discretion. A student of Israeli history will not find any bombshells or particularly startling revelations as Avner narrates the highlights of a half century of warfare and diplomacy. However, the documentary will prove valuable both to students and to casual observers alike. In the first instance, as a chronology it will be a good starting point for more detailed research. In the second instance, especially for those of my generation (age 70), it will be a walk down memory lane, invoking such moments as Henry Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy; Israel’s raid on Entebbe, Uganda, to liberate hostages taken by the PLO; Anwar Sadat’s unprecedented visit to Israel; Begin, Sadat and Jimmy Carter celebrating the Camp David accords; the famous handshake between PLO Leader Yassir Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin as Bill Clinton looked on; and the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.
There are moments too of horror, among them the shelling of the Altalena by the Haganah, and the assassinations of Rabin, Sadat and Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayel.
One of the stories I enjoyed was when Yitzhak Rabin was feted at a White House dinner by President Gerald Ford. Avner, who kept kosher, was seated at a table with television celebrity Barbara Walters and others, and when his multi-layered fruit plate was served, Walters began to clap for the beauty of the presentation, prompting Ford to ask Rabin what the mini-celebration was all about. Rabin told Ford that it was Avner’s birthday, which it wasn’t, and so the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Avner.
Later Avner asked Rabin why he had told Ford such a story. The Prime Minister responded that had he not, the news stories about the occasion would be that Avner had kept kosher while Rabin had not, possibly causing friction with the religious parties in his coalition – friction that Rabin definitely did not need.
So Avner had two birthday celebrations that year.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the U.S.)