As part of the College’s Enabling Difficult Conversations series, the University screened the documentary “The Path Forward” Wednesday in Nau Hall. This documentary is directed by Julie Cohen, Jewish American filmmaker and Academy Award-nominated director, and Palestinian American filmmaker Mo Husseini. The screening was followed by a moderated discussion with the filmmakers and Christa Davis Acampora, dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and concluded with a catered reception for attendees.
The 39-minute documentary explores the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian activists working toward peace amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to the event’s description, the film presents an alternative to polarizing rhetoric by amplifying the voices of Palestinians and Israeli Jews who oppose war and violence and advocate for peace and empathy.
Acampora opened the event by welcoming attendees and introducing the filmmakers. She highlighted the event’s place within the Engaging Difficult Conversations series, describing it as an opportunity to reflect on the power of dialogue.
“Tonight's screening of ‘The Path Forward’ is a powerful invitation. It gives us a window into the stories of Israelis and Palestinians, who, despite deep loss, are choosing dialogue over division, humanity over hatred and hope over despair,” Acampora said.
Acampora asked how the experience of making the film had impacted the directors personally. Husseini described feeling humbled by the resilience of individuals featured in the documentary, many of whom have suffered personal losses yet remain committed to peace. Cohen emphasized the value of spending time with the activists, explaining that while she is not highly optimistic about the future, she sees the importance of amplifying voices that work toward change.
Before the screening, Cohen and Husseini spoke about their motivations for making the documentary. Cohen reflected on how much of the discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has felt unproductive, with many people retreating into ideological divisions and described the film as an attempt to create a more constructive space for conversation.
“You know, we don’t know about you all, but I’ll speak for myself personally—over the past year and a half, so much of the conversation about what’s happening in Palestine and Israel… has felt so deeply unhelpful,” Cohen said. “There’s just people kind of separating into their own silos of anger.”
Husseini added that they wanted to show the value of empathy in reconciliation efforts shown in the film, emphasizing that recognizing the humanity of all people is essential to moving forward.
“We wanted to show that the only way forward is to step away from [dehumanization] and to recognize that fundamentally, we are all human beings,” Husseini said. “...working up from that understanding that everyone has value, is really the only way forward.”
The film opens with a rally where participants chant “Peace, Shalom, Salaam” while holding a banner that rejects division and calls for justice and equality. It then follows several individuals directly affected by the conflict, including Maoz Inon, an Israeli whose parents were killed during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack and Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian activist who lost his brother after an arrest by Israeli forces. Other featured activists include Sally Abed and Alon Lee Green of Standing Together, who organize for peace between Israelis and Palestinians as well as Yael Braudo-Bahat and Riman Barakat, who have led grassroots efforts to unite women from both communities.
Following the film, Acampora asked Cohen and Husseini several guided questions before opening it to participants. The discussion focused on the documentary’s depiction of individuals who continue to push for dialogue despite the ongoing violence in the region.
Husseini reflected on the way media coverage tends to prioritize political and military developments over grassroots peace efforts. He argued that stories of collaboration rarely receive the same attention as those centered on violence or diplomatic breakdowns.
“I think more than anything for us, it was really just about getting the story out [that is] not as rare as our media would have you believe,” Husseini said. “... It is not deeply interesting to the media to show people getting along … Stories that [the media] tell particularly about this conflict are deeply focused on conflict, as opposed to the many, many people who find their way through it.”
Cohen explained that the documentary emerged from a personal search for voices engaging with the conflict in a constructive way. She said she was struck by how many activists were working toward coexistence, despite media coverage that often presents the conflict as defined by irreconcilable divisions.
“It seemed like the kind of experience that would be good to bring out into the world,” Cohen said. “We felt like if Jewish me in New Jersey and Palestinian Mo in Seattle were both moved by these voices, maybe other people would be also.”
The discussion also addressed the political landscape surrounding the conflict. Cohen referenced recent rhetoric from President Donald Trump, specifically the recent statements within his administration discussing the “de-Palestinianizing” of Gaza, as well as an AI-generated post on his Instagram depicting “Trump Gaza.” The post featured images of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lounging on a beach, golden statues of Trump and scenes of destroyed buildings replaced with a luxury resort.
Cohen argued that such rhetoric minimizes the suffering of Palestinians and presents an unrealistic, detached vision of the conflict. She pointed out that Trump’s post came just weeks after he suggested the U.S. take control of Gaza and relocate its residents. Ignoring or disengaging from the realities of the situation, she said, is not a responsible stance, particularly when statements like these contribute to further division and undermine efforts toward meaningful resolution.
Husseini compared the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to historical conflicts in Europe, pointing to the long history of war between France and Germany before the formation of the European Union. He noted that while reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians may seem impossible now, history has shown that entrenched conflicts can evolve over time.
“I always use the example of the Battle of Verdun, and I think on the first day of the Battle of Verdun, 140,000 people were killed in World War I between French and Germans,” Husseini said. “Less than 100 years later, they are part of the Union, you can travel between those countries without a passport, be a French person living in Berlin, be a German person living in Paris without hatred, without a sense of being discriminated against, it's completely normal.”
After a question was raised from one attendee on the intersection of ideological politics and interpersonal perspectives, Husseini contended that traditional left wing politics is dead on both sides of the conflict. He also argued that Israel is facing authoritarianism, and offered parallels between Trump and Netanyahu.
“Netanyahu to me is Trump with a brain, which is dangerous, and I think they're farther along an authoritarian path than we are, but it's certainly heading that way,” Husseini said. “...I will say that the complexity of Israeli politics makes ours look like a cakewalk.”
Another attendee asked the filmmakers to briefly summarize the core grievances of each side in the conflict. Husseini responded by framing the issue as a fundamental refusal to share the land, explaining that Palestinians argue they have lived in the region for thousands of years, while Israelis assert historical claims predating them.
The filmmakers also responded to a question regarding how they intend to make the film last the test of time as the conflict continues to evolve, referencing a moment in the film where two individuals listed as “held hostage” had been confirmed dead by the time of the screening. Cohen acknowledged the challenge of maintaining accuracy in a rapidly changing conflict and said that adjustments would be made before the film’s digital release to reflect updated information about the hostages.
“You know, we really wanted something that was showing people still working together in this environment,” Cohen said. “Doing something that's completely evergreen is not really possible in this region, but we hope we've done something that is worthwhile for some period.”
The filmmakers also spoke about their creative process and how they structured “The Path Forward” to serve as a tool for discussion. Cohen explained that they intentionally kept the film under 40 minutes so it could be used in educational settings and community screenings.
The discussion concluded with Acampora thanking the filmmakers and emphasizing the importance of open dialogue in addressing complex issues. She reminded the audience that while the path to resolution is difficult, conversation remains essential. Regarding the film’s distribution, Cohen announced that the film would be distributed digitally within the next six weeks.
The Engaging Difficult Conversations series continues to bring discussions on diplomacy, leadership and conflict resolution to the University. This event was co-sponsored by the Forum on Religion and Democracy, the Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures Department, the Islamic Worlds Initiative and the Jewish Studies Program. Past events have included panels featuring former Middle East peace negotiators and scholars specializing in mediation and political reconciliation, and similar events can be found on the University’s official website events calendar.
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