Amos Gitai: 'We must strive to find a new peaceful modus vivendi between us and the Palestinians'

François Picard welcomes Israel's legendary filmmaker Amos Gitai on the 2nd anniversary of Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in its history. As peace talks advance, Mr. Gitai affirms that “peace is obligatory... we have to find a way to live together.” For nearly half a century, Mr. Gitai's films and works of art have recounted the marvels and complexities of Israeli society. He describes Israel as a rich cultural mosaic and insists everyone has a right to a peaceful existence. In this spirit, Mr. Gitai invites Israelis & Palestinians to embrace empathy and "think about the suffering of the other". In 1982, Amos Gitai interviewed Bassam Shakaa, Mayor of Nablus, who survived an assassination attempt. He asked if the mayor was optimistic. "And I loved his answer", remembers Mr. Gitai. "He said to me, 'Amos, we can't afford to be pessimistic, it's a luxury'.” Mr. Gitai reminds us that history is shaped by ideas, more than weapons and wealth. "That’s where culture comes in".