A Review of The Gatekeepers

“Pursue the peace process as if there is no terrorism, and fight terrorism as if there is no peace process.” – Yitzhak Rabin

I recently went to see “The Gatekeepers” here in Jerusalem and it is an absolute must see.  It was nominated for an Academy Award along with a Palestinian film “5 Cameras” both losing to “Searching for Sugar Man” this year.

The movie is a fairly straightforward documentary involving interviews with 6 recent heads of the Shin Bet.  The Shin Bet is somewhat similar to Israel’s version of the FBI except with a much higher level of secrecy and a more specific focus than the FBI.  They are responsible for keeping Israelis secure and so most of their mission is focused on foiling terror plots.

The documentary is a very frank discussion of the tactics that Shin Bet uses to keep informed about terrorist plots, find them and decisions that have been made to imprison or kill actual and suspected terrorists.

What is striking about the movie is not the things that these men have approved, but their regret at certain things.  The oldest former head, Avraham Shalom, was head of the Shin Bet from 81-86.  He spoke with great sadness about the missed opportunity to form a Palestinian State and his belief that the tactics being used were just making peace more difficult.

In a particularly powerful moment, Yuval Diskin, who was head from 2005 to 2011 describes the feelings after a decision to kill a terrorist from afar. 

It is hard to say definitively that I learned this lesson or I now understand this point, rather this movie drove home for me the recognition that the status quo in Israel is not good for either side and that we must talk and we must find a solution.  Towards the end of the movie the conclusion of all the men is that we must talk.  In the United States the past few elections there have been multiple political attacks against politicians saying that we should talk to our enemies.  Yet here these men are, men who spent their entire adult lives protecting Israel saying that Israel must talk to everyone, even Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran… everyone.

“There is no way to defeat terror through military means only. Terrorism will be defeated when we utilize diplomatic moves alongside uncompromising war, and time is not playing in Israel's favor…” – Former Mossad Director Danny Yatom