Maybe I missed it, but did we ever see what the present was?

I was quite moved by this program. As the discussion afterward pointed out, all people on both sides of this issue have stories – if more attention could only be paid to the people involved in the conflict and the difficulties for them all, perhaps some progress could be made. Instead the politicians keep spouting the same old rhdtoric and as the moderator said, nothing changes. I belong to a group in my homwtown which has been struggling to bring people who do not see eye to eye on the Middle East to some common ground and it seems impossible to get them past buzzwords and political positions. I hope they all watched this program to see how two people for whom it was very difficult to come together recognized the humanity in each other and allowed themselves to be moved, however minutely, past their political stances. I will recommend it to anyone who did not. Thank you for presenting this wonderful story.

It is good to see programming like this on PBS. I’d definitely like to see more documentaries like this on PBS; I would certainly watch it more often.

thank you for a new perspective from the inside…profoundly honest! thank you also to those involved who were willing to share this part of their lives with strangers.

It’s sad that they can share organs, but not a patch of dirt. Very touching story, thank you.

The history of the region is quite complex, as are others, the documentary however, in my opinion it is as simple and cut and dry as is the reaching of a mutually beneficial, and for that matter world-wide beneficiary: if you want to go nowhere and simply rehash the history of the last millenniums keep on behaving just like Levinson and NOTHING will change … for the better, OR, put (far)less emphasis on history, think progressively, think of present and future generations, and the answers will come quite fast, with benefits to be reaped by ALL, and by ALL I am not speaking of just Jews or Arabs/Palestinians.

An Arab/Palestinian, Ismael Khatib, who by self admission had fought against the Jewish army, at the worst possible time in ANY parent’s life, and more specifically, fatal shooting of his middle son, set aside the sentiments which drove him to join and fight, making a surprisingly (more than) generous decision, to donate his son’s organs which benefited 6 Jewish children.

I am not intimately familiar with the regions statistical history in reaching such decisions, however, I’ll go on a limb here and speculate that, at best, such generosity is an infrequent occurrence.

On the other hand to Khatib, during the transplant surgery, the father of a kidney recipient, an Orthodox Jew, when asked of his preferences of the donor’s religious orogin, declares that he would prefer that the donor be Jewish. Later in the documentary he made a feeble and lame attempt, at excusing his remarks, attributing them to having been made under the stress of the moment, which makes his true feelings even more obvious for he did not have time to polish his response, but rather, he exposed his true raw feelings. The very same raw feelings which drove the Arab father, to reach a decision few had made to then, and perhaps few would make, PERIOD.

Another important aspect if this story, was the Arab father’s desire to, at the one year, then the 2 year, anniversary of the unfortunate incident, to travel, under less than hospitable of circumstances, to go visit and see, the recipient children of his son’s organs. The very children he gave the gift of life. The love in his eyes, for those children, was quite evident, as he saw his own child in each and every one of them.

Although a good deal of time had passed since the surgery, and certainly long enough for “Mr” Levinson to fully digest the situation, it was evident that, at best, he had made only minuscule progress, if any, in his attitude towards the Palestinians, if any. He had the audacity to suggest the Arab move to America or UK, where to practice his profession as an auto mechanic since Israel had nothing to offer him, as a future!!!

Levinson drove his foot, further down his throat, when asked if he wanted to meet the family of the Arab doner, by replying matter-of-factishly, that perhaps, maybe, but certainly he would be opposed to anything more meaningful !!!!

Wide Angle is not a program known for taking sides, but rather one which asks hard questions, and presents the facts as they are. The bottom line of this sad episode is Levinson, represents the reasons why the Jewish-Arab conflict, as it stands today, will produce nothing more than more casualties. To be clear, the likes of Levinson exist ON BOTH sides. By contrast, Khatib, the donor father, represents the PROGRESSIVE THINKERS, those willing to put emotions aside, use their intellect, and choose the only sensible path for the future of Arabs and Jews alike.

Before anyone jumps at all the wrong conclusions, I am far from being biased. As I look back to my past, I can name MANY close friends who are Jews, and even lived in Israel, but I can only recall one with Arab roots. I have no proverbial dog in this fight. And as far as I am concerned, this piece was NOT about, Jews = bad, Arabs = good, but rather about what will it take to make any progress, and perhaps even reach a mutually acceptable conclusion, and the answer is, again, PROGRESSIVE thinking with emphasis on the future rather than the past.

If progress is to be made in this matter, the international press/media should give far greater weight and coverage to the Khatib’s of the world, and less of the Levninson’s, AGAIN, RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND ASIDE. A good start, would be for the Israeli government to openly recognize Khatib’s gesture in some form or fashion, and give the man the appropriate credentials, so he may cross the border with far greater ease than what we’ve seen – being treated as basically a nobody, when in fact SIX Jewish children are alive and well, due to his generosity.

More could be said about this segment, but I’ve said enough.

And come to think of it, a nomination for a Nobel Peace prize, would certainly be in order and go a long way in promoting Khatib’s present children’s cultural organization !!!!!

Peace to all !!!!

A very moving story! Sad that they can share organs but not the land…Maybe by this story and other stories like this, one can make a small step to peace until all parties in Israel and Palestine can live together peacefully!

The courage,strength and giving spirit of this young boys parents and the work his father is doing should make us all take a good hard look at our lives and see what we take for granted. Please provide links to provide resources directly to this mans family and cause without going through “charitable organizations”. Here is a family who knows how to give from the heart and they deserve to get some help to make their lives better.

Thank you for one of the best documentaries ever. I just wish you had given the name and address of Ismael so viewers could write personal letters to this courageous man and wife who are living peace.

A wonderful story of one man’s generosity of spirit and the good that can follow from one positive affirming decision.
Very well done.
Henry Quinlan

I was touched by the tragedy of Mr.Ismael Khatib family, the killing of his little son Ahmed by the Israeli army, and Mr.Khatib decision to donate his son’s organs to anyone who needed an organ donation. I was shocked by the arrogance of Mr. Levinson, the orthodox Jewish father of the girl who got one of
ahmed’s kidneys. Levinson said “he would prefer that the organ were from a Jewish donor instead of an Arab” He should have been ashamed of his arrogance and ingratitude and should have apologized to the family of Mr. Khatib. Another thing, his suggestion to Mr.Khatib to move to Istambul or London to get a job. Mr. Khatib and generations of his family were born in Palestine, it is their homeland, in contrast to Mr. Levinson who came from the United States.

Besides what has been said already, it is shocking how the Levinson’s kids are so afraid of this non European looking person, while the other palestinian kids so openly accepts Khatib. Either the Levinson kids are all extremely shy, or they have taken upon their father’s racist viewpoints.

As one who has lost a loving husband and made that last minute decision of organ donations, this was a needed story. Sure it struck us ALL – RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES. “An eye for an eye” as some live, but it was meant to strike us between the inner most parts of our hearts. I commend the Levinson family and the broadcast organization for making this story public and WKNO for airing it.
None of us are innocent of being double-minded or guilty sinners, so none of us should think we know better than the next. No one wants to hear a sermon as some went to great lengths to give, but we’d rather see one living what is right. We have a conscious will to listen to the message, interpreting between the lines and thinking on our own.
I’ve marked my donation on my official i.d. Have you? It might be an intended tool to lengthen their lives to accomplish what God intends for them.

The documentary reminds me of the story of the Native Americans from the United States, the Palistinians will only continue to be pushed off their land, making their lives and their childrens’ unsustainable. The bible is no different that any history book authorizing and legitimizing the authors’ right to dominate and create boundries. It is no different than the whole notion of manifest destiny that Native Americans continue to experience. The Old Testament continues to gives the “chosen” people a right to continue to kill, murder and destroy others. Of course it’s too convenient to believe in a book that gives a people the god given right to do as they please. We will live in peace when we stop believing in fairy tales and start taking responsibility for our own greed. Ismael took a giant step toward creating peace through his individual pain. His incredible love and generousity could teach us all that peace is a personal responsibility, like saving the earth is. We can only do it one conscience at a time. Hurrah Ismael you are a hero, in a time when true heros are hard to come by!

First, I want peace for this region. But there can be no peace without justice. The premise that so many people work with is that there is injustice on from sides. But this is a flawed premise that wants to see this conflict as the fault of everyone, when this is a crisis maintained by an apartheid regime in Israel (with the able backing of the USA). While this ‘injustice on all sides’ theory MAY be true, what is more true it that Israel has the force of a modern military and Palestine simply does not. There is in this way (and others-economically, environmentally, etc) an inherent power differential between the two sides.

This story breaks my heart, then makes me angry. What madness is the government of Israel feeding its population if a man is terrified/disgusted to even meet with the people who gave life to his child through organ donation?! In the end this story is supposed to be one of uplift, but it makes me think of how far there is to go until Palestinians see justice and all people know peace.

As a question to the filmmakers: Why such little focus on the razing of Jenin that happened in 2005…I remember this being a massive and ongoing story even in normally cloistered US news reporting…Why such limited time spent on these important events??

This was very moving on some conflicting levels. My basic summary: the Israelis killed the kid and only Israelis got the organs. Why are we not surprised? I also agree with Susan’s earlier comment! As a documentary, it is excellent but sad.

The arrogrance of the Levinson’s mirrows the problems of the Palestinan issues.He listens to God, but what God? He will continue to teach hatred. Mr Khatib on the other hand is a forward thinking humanitarian. Palestine needs more like him.

So good, and yet. . .
Why did you not acknowledge that the first intifada was mainly non-violent?
Why did you present Ahmed’s story as if it were an event among a few others? while speaking of suicide bombings as if they were more frequent that Palestinian deaths?
Why did you not say that the overwhelming number of deaths were to Palestinians by Israel?
Why in the post film discussion did you limit the Palestinian “narrative” to be only about a relatively recent attachment to the land rather than point to their history of domination by the West while Jews “narrative” being about a compelling personal history of suffering?
The film was so artfully made and undoubtedly raised the consciousness of many otherwise uninformed people; It would have been well within your remarkable skill to include these essential truths you missed w/o turning the film into something biased.

A very moving and realistic depiction of middle-east present day reality.Donor’s father sums it all in the end- What else do they want from us? On the other hand Levinson appears ungrateful and suggests that they should migrate.Shouldn’t “religious and orthodox” be human first? but sadly that is not the case….

I wish the analysis afterwards could have added a more accurate perspective. Gideon’s statement that Palestinian self identity was a nineteenth century phenomomenon ignores the reality that Palesinian families just like Greek and Italian families around the Mediterranean have lived on their land for centuries. Religious Jews were a tiny accepted minority until political Zionism began.

They could have mentioned some statistics about “violence” which is so often atributed to Palestinians. A military occupation of forty years is inherently violent. Many, many more Palestinians are being killed or wounded by Israelis than the other way round. Assassinations, land, water and property grabs, house and orchard demolitions, 10,000 in prison and documented torture all include violence or the immediate threat of it. Since Israel insists on continuing settlement expansion, I don’t see any bona fide wish for peace.

Aaron Brown could have pointed out that Levinson had tremendous chutzpah in suggesting that Ishmael the Palestinian could easily leave his hometown of Jenin and find work elsewhere. Levinson’s parents were from New York and Chicago in a country so many long to come to and his wife had a British Midlands accent. They have somewhere else to go whereas Ishmael doesn’t and shouldn’t have to leave his ancestral town of Jenin.

Awesome indepedent film-very moving. Unfortunate that one child had to give his life, hoping spare the other children. How innocently does a child look at his/her health? Yes this was a different and difficult decision for a parent to make. Especially when it comes down to two different regions of thought, concept, religion,and beliefs. Who is right to choose the right from wrong? Children ultimately are a blessing from one God/Allah. A gift above all things. If this is what it will take to “tear down the walls.” Then so be. Maybe we should all be more the children and look through butterfly wings and rainbows. Peace will come in time. Like a childs steps.

Great project! On top of what #s 18 and 20 have said; When does the realization of the capable film maker to create the fake balance of casualties, and price paid, by the human lives mostly by the Palestinians, as equal to the suffering inflicted on the Israelis by the Palestinians. He could not have been that naively deceived by any one else but his own intentions to portray it in such form. I rested assured, after reading the comments, that he really did not fool any one but himself. You have done a good job; Integrity would have elevated your labor ten folds more. Humanity will always prevail, it does not matter what color blood runs in it veins. Ismael and his family have shown us that.

Thank you for this documentary. What a generous and loving father to have given the gift of life to children after losing his own child. Good bless this father and his family during their grieving process.

One could feel the love that Ishmael Khatib carries for his dead son Ahmed in the affection and hope he bears for the children he visited who received his son’s heart, liver, kidneys,etc. It was a generosity unimaginable that perhaps sustains him in his grief. He is extraordinarily compassionate stalwart and humane despite his suffering. You could sense his genuine affection for each of the children that he visited but I kept waiting for some spark of humanity, warmth, engagement from the orthodox jew who would have preferred a jewish donor he said and later appeared to apologize for saying. It was like entering a meat locker in terms of lack of welcome there. The summation lacked any depth at conclusion from Brown and Litchfield–instead lots of platitudes and cliches. I thought the Swedish film a profoundly beautiful statement about moving thru loss, grief with dignity.

I want to thank PBS for their bravery in airing this documentary. I found it heartbreaking but also very informative in showing that there are radical Jews in this conflict. It is crucial that Americans are exposed to this and that they understand extremism doesn’t only possess Arabs.

I am not here to judge Mr. Levinson on his actions, however viewing them were disheartening. As a jewish person who has grown up and went to the same kind of ultra-religious schools as him, we were taught, and if it were any of the vast majority of those ultra orthodox jews who may have received an organ donation as well, to believe in certain jewish concepts such as, “hakoras hatov” which means to acknowledge the good done to us, -no matter who it from, and the concept of one who saves a life is as if he saved the entire world. In this case, I speak matter of factly that, no matter if the donor’s father is a muslim arab, he would and should have been thanked just as much as had come from the other families.

Watching certain things that Mr. Levinson and his wife said made me cringe, but speaking from someone from that world, I can promise you, that utmost gratitude would, and rightfully so, should have been shown to Mr. Khatib and his family.

If Mr. Khatib and his family will eventually get to read this post, I am not sure. But I hope he and they do, to know that it is our view to show him eternal gratitude for saving the lives of 6 children and in particular one jewish soul.

The almighty should bless you and your family with health, happiness, material and spiritual success, in all that you do.

Please, please provide contact information so that all of the people so inspired by this little boy’s family can support their generosity and vision for peace.

This should teach us here in America at what magnitud the hatred can scalate if not properly contain.
this is happening to the Immigrant comunity here in the USA, They are isolated, discriminated, Marginated and can no longer provide for their little ones. You heard it all over the news.
God help us all!!!!

What an moving story. It brought tears to my eyes and what a compassionate man who would donate his sons organs to whomever in a region where such segregation and prejudice is practiced generation after generation along with obvious inequities……..
May real good come from that kind of generous intention.

Very touching story, thank you.