Torn Apart

"Dear Laila,

"I feel like today is the last day of my life.

"Writing to you now I remember

"many years ago when I first saw you.

"The day your family moved into the house next to ours.

"Arabs coming to live with Jews.

"I was confused Laila,

"and afraid.

"I tried everything I could to get your attention.

"Finally you noticed.

"My head hurt for a week,

"but we were friends.

"I'll never forget those days.

"We thought they would last forever.

"I realize now how wrong I was."

Shalom!

Shalom!

On behalf of the Jewish Agency,

welcome to Israel.

Once I stood where you are now,

so I can guess what's in your hearts.

Many of you have suffered, struggled.

You've been persecuted for your beliefs,

but now at long last

you've reached the promise land.

This I promise.

You will be equal citizens,

and your children

and your children's children

will find brotherhood and acceptance

in your homeland.

Ben, where are you going?

To the movies.

So early?

In Jerusalem.

I got to go to Ze'ev.

- You mean you're leaving me to handle this myself?

I trust you.

Go.

Go!

Come on if you are coming. (laughs)

Come on.

Come on here, Ben.

Oh, oh, oh!

Let's go.

Up, up, up, up, up!

This is the BBC.

In the South, Egyptian troops have begun to mass.

In response Israeli forces have been put on full alert,

and as mobilization continues,

citizens have been cautioned to prepare for an attack,

which officials fear may occur at any moment.

Everything okay?

Fine.

No problems?

No.

Your parents didn't say anything?

No.

- All soldiers, report to your units!

Quickly!

I'll meet you later,

Salaam Shalom.

Laila!

Where have you been?

Your cousin Moustapha has come from Jordan.

Laila.

Laila,

cousin?

Do you think our fathers

will make a contract for our marriage?

No.

I don't think so, Moustapha.

Mother says I must complete my education,

nothing's more important.

I can leave here the guns with you.

- Fawzi! - Just for a while!

I'm not a fanatic.

Neither am I.

- What sort of a man blows up a school bus?

A normal man murders farmers and cuts off their ears?

My father was killed by Jews.

My land, your land, was taken by Jews!

How you can sit here in Israel

and write about this?

What this?

I'm worried, Laila.

We have to promise!

Promise?

Promise what?

That we'll stick together.

No matter what.

I can't make such a promise.

It wouldn't be fair.

But we'll always be friends.

Baba, please come with us!

You better take care of your mother.

I'll write you when it's safe.

Okay?

Ilana Arnon,

I regret to inform you--

Ze'ev! (sobs)

"Now, Laila,

"my father has been transferred to America.

"My sister's staying,

"but I must go with my parents.

"I don't wanna go.

"But there's nothing I can do.

"I don't know when you're coming back,

"but when you find this,

"I know you'll understand.

"And maybe you won't be angry with me.

"I wish we could have seen each other

"one last time.

"Maybe this is the best way to say goodbye."

Shalom, Ben.

I'll miss you.

- Hi. - Hello. Hi!

Shalom!

I'm looking for my sister,

Ilana Arnon.

Ilana, I know her.

Okay, you follow this road

through to the village path.

Ilana!

Look at you! (laughs)

It's not like Jerusalem, is it?

You'll get used to it.

I'm glad you're happy.

(laughs) You will be, too.

You'll see.

You're home now.

(sighs) Yeah.

Yeah.

What do they do in America?

It's good you got dropped here, Habibi.

Yonni, Leonid, come on, we're moving.

You are moving.

No jokes, Leonid.

We're moving, we've got trouble.