The documentary film Iceland Street, Jerusalem tells a story of three nations. Here is the story about the interaction between Iceland and Israel, two nations which considered themselves to have a common cause in international matters. But here is also the story of the Palestinians who lost their land.

Iceland and Israel were close in the first decades after the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944 and the state of Israel in 1948. The two nations felt they had a common destiny due to their small size and the importance of ancient history that shaped their views on the world.


But the friendship of these two nation was a strange combination.

On one hand we have a nation, which never had an army and has never been in a war against other countries, and on the other hand is a militarized nations that has been at war

with their neighbors from the beginning six decades ago.


Genre: Documentary, Human Rights, Political - History.


Documentary film on Palestine, past, present and the future.


Duration: 52.


Production companies: Seylan Film Production and Hugo Film


Directors: Hjalmtyr Heiddal,

Ingvar Thorisson


Producers: Ingvar Thorisson, Hjalmtyr Heiddal


Upd. 19.12.2012

Iceland Street,

Jerusalem

In development

„They were not only placed under the custody of others, but also deprived of the right to have a say in how their land was dealt out. Certain group of foreigners from all the world were offered to settle in the country, and for the indigenous people it was

impossible to oppose“


Björn Thordarson, former primeminister

of Iceland 1950

Supported by

The Icelandic Filmcentre.

Consultant: Martin Schlüter

RÚV - Icelandic Public Broadcast Service

Synopsis

Icelanders boast of being a peaceful people that does not harass other nations. The small population and the isolation in the North Atlantic have shaped its role in international affairs. But twice, Iceland has undertaken actions that can be viewed as a violation of the rights and sovereignty of other nations.

The first time was in 1947 when UN representatives of Iceland worked for and supported the establishment of Israel. The second time was when the Icelandic government supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The Iraq war is still ongoing and the final outcome belongs to the future. The establishment of Israel was a recipe for endless conflict, as many people pointed out when the UN discussed in 1947, the establishing of a new state in a territory where other people already lived.


Iceland and Israel were close in the first decades after the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944 and Israel in 1948. The two nations felt they had a common destiny due to their smallness and the importance of ancient history that shaped their views on the  world.

Icelanders had actively contributed to the creation of Israel at the United Nations and were proud of it. In return the Israelis treated the representatives of Iceland with respect. In 1966, Asgeir Asgeirsson President of Iceland visited Israel and became the first foreign head of state to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

The highlight of the visit was in Jerusalem when Asgeir Asgeirsson cut on the ribbon and formally opened a new street that was named Iceland Street.


Now relations between the two countries have gone sour and only 4% of Icelanders support the cause of Israel as the world denounces the assault on Gaza and the killings on board the Mavi Marmara.

Our documentary takes you to the origins of this conflict, seen through the eyes of the director of the film, an Icelandic radical from the “68 Generation”. A veteran from the opposition against he Vietnam War and other radical events in the seventies. As the crisis in the Middle East deepens his old sympathies for oppressed people awaken. Visiting former ministers and diplomats, historians and other experts in Iceland, Israel, England, Gaza, the West Bank and the US he tries to get a grasp of the situation and think about a solution.


"The UNSCOP [U.N. Special Committee on Palestine] Majority Plan is not only unworkable; if adopted, it would guarantee that the Palestine problem would be permanent and still more complicated in the future“


LOY HENDERSON. Director, Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs, Department of State,1945-1948. About 70 pages on the State Department's