All language subtitles for oslo.2021.480p.web.x264.mkv

I'll reconfirm the time,
and the location.

Wait for my call.

Yes, wear the blue tie.

Hello?

Mona Juul:
He'll be there at noon.

Excellent, darling.

Mona:
Listen to me.

This meeting is
completely unofficial.

Understood. Absolutely.

You cannot even
mention my ministry.

Darling... Darling...
Trust me.

Two years of multi-national
negotiations

between us and the Palestinians
have achieved

absolutely nothing.

Why? Because our government

refuses to negotiate
directly with the PLO.

They are not allowed
at the table.

But every day,
Ahmed Qurie,

the PLO's finance minister,
in London,

sitting in a hotel room
across the street
from the negotiation

telling the Palestinian
delegation exactly what to say.

We are racing
toward a precipice.

In Europe,
they are calling us Nazis.

In Europe.

Every day, more and more
of the world turns against us,

but all we do is sit at that
fucking negotiation table.

Terje Larsen:
Because you're trapped
in a process

incapable of building trust.

But...

with my assistance,
my expertise,

you could change that.

Tell me exactly what part
of the Norwegian government

-are you with, Mr. Huntsen?
-Larsen.

Call me Terje.

No, I'm a, a private citizen.

I run the Fafo Institute.

A think tank.

-Why would I accept your help?
-Because you need it.

Because my negotiating model,
and mine alone,

is going to help you.

You and the Palestinians
are using

the antiquated negotiating
model of totalism.

All issues of disagreement

on the table.
All sides at the table.

It's disastrous.
The process is formal,
it's rigid,

and the results
are absolute failure.

But this is what
the Americans want us to do.

And so you must do it,
but at the same time,

start a second process.

Built, not on grand
pronouncements between
governments,

but intimate discussions
between people

held somewhere isolated.

Totally.

Where you
and the PLO can meet.
Alone.

And talk.

This process I could oversee.

The place, I'd arrange.

Absolute discretion,
guaranteed.

It is illegal for
any Israeli official
to speak to the PLO.

-Yes.
-But someone unofficial...

-Who you and Peres could choose.
-That you could introduce to.

-Exactly what I was thinking.
-Yes.

-Tea?
-Yes.

Ahmed Qurie:
And how long were you
stationed in the Middle East?

Mona:
Two years.

And from this,
you have just returned.

Yes.

Thank you.

It is a pleasure to meet you,
Mr. Qurie.

I'm pleased our work
brings us to London
at the same time.

Ah, well, you are here for work.

But alas, I am here
for foolishness.

In that hotel,

they are negotiating
for the future of Palestine.

Yet I, who am the finance
minister of the PLO,

I am banned, barred,

blocked from the very table

where the economic
future of my people

is to be determined.

Mr. Qurie, you don't need
to give me the speech.

Of course.

You are on our side.

And on theirs.

Forgive me, but
I don't speak Arabic.

And yet you profess
to understand my region

and my people,

when in fact, clearly,

there is very little
that you understand.

Mona:
That may be true.

But I do understand that
your Chairman Arafat's

backing of Saddam Hussein
in the Gulf War

so angered your
now former Arab allies

that they expelled 90,000
Palestinian guest workers,

thereby creating such
a financial catastrophe

for your people,

that the PLO is now stuck
in exile in Tunis,

unable to pay even
the electricity bills.

I also understand

that without additional support
from my government,

your organization will slide

one step closer to irrelevancy.

Mr. Qurie,

tell me how much you need,

and I will do what I can.

But I want you to do one thing.

Not for me. For you.

There's a man being sent here
to London to meet you today.

If you are willing to see him.

-This way. Yep. Mm-hmm.
-I'm not here as my government.

-He knows this, right?
-Yes, he knows. He knows.
He knows.

It is against the law,
Mr. Larsen,

-for any Israeli--
-Both: To meet with the PLO.

I know. Shh, shh, shh.
After you. After you.
Hello. Thank you.

Yes, he knows. Come on.

-Absolutely. Absolutely.
-But, I, I, I--
Wait, wait, wait...

What's wrong?

I have never met
an Israeli face-to-face.

Now, you know what
you're going to say?

-Ah, yes, yes.
Yes, of course.
-Okay.

Yeah, yeah. Right. Okay.

Right. Here we go.

Oh.

Hello.

Hello.

London is very cold
this time of year.

Yes.

And wet.

Yes.

Not like home.

I have not been home
since 1967,

when every man, woman,
and child in my village

was forced to flee our homeland,

before the advancing
hordes of Zionism.

Aah.

But I remember well
the warmth there

this time of year.

I read your latest paper.

Oh?

I thought it was excellent.

Thank you.

As a matter of fact, I...

I've written a paper of my own,

demonstrating the benefits
of such economic cooperation.

Perhaps if you could read it.

Give me your
professional feedback.

I would be honored.

Mona:
Gentlemen, it's time.

- You have been most generous
with your thoughts.

We should meet again.

To discuss economics.

The future.

I'm told if we were
to meet in Oslo,

Friends would prove--
appro--

Sorry... Sorry.

I am told if we were
to meet in Oslo,

friends would provide us

solitude and privacy,

and anything else
we would require.

Who are you?

I'm just a professor
of economics

who supports dialogue
with the PLO.

On whose authority do you speak?

I have no authority!

But I am having breakfast
tomorrow in Tel Aviv

with my dear good friend
Yossi Beilin.

I am so looking forward

to telling our new
deputy foreign minister

about my trip to London.

Jan Egeland: My God.

I mean, my God,
that's impossible.

Larsen:
Jan, the Berlin Wall
has just fallen,

the Soviet empire has disbanded.
Anything is possible.

If we set up a meeting
here in Norway,

Ahmed Qurie will come
as the voice of the PLO.

There is no voice of the PLO
but Arafat's, Mona.

Who is this Ahmed Qurie?

How can you be sure
this man has even told Arafat
what he's doing?

Because Arafat is fully
informed and behind this.

-Really?
-Yes. Absolutely.

And if we host it,
the Israelis are on board,
as well.

No. Mona,

Yossi Beilin is on board,
who does not have the authority

-to authorize such a thing.
-Larsen: Jan, Jan. Jan, Jan.

Yossi told me to my face.
Directly.

This comes from Shimon Peres.
No question.

Mona, you are I are members
of the foreign service.

We cannot jeopardize
the Norwegian government's
neutrality in this conflict--

We're not talking
about involving
the Norwegian government.

-This is just us. It's just us.
-Do you not see
the impossibility

in what you are proposing here?

You're a junior minister,
and Terje's just a sociologist.

Then that must be enough.

Listen, we will say that
Terje's institute is hosting

a conference here in Norway

for Israeli and Palestinian
academics.

Terje will ask a friend
to loan us his manor house.

I will book them all
on regular flights
under different names.

Rental cars only,
and no diplomatic channels.

But for this to work,
we need you

to sign off on their visas.

Jan. Jan, listen.

No one else in the government
needs to know.

This way, Holst
and the ministry
is protected.

If you say no,
this conversation
never happened.

-Isn't that right, Terje?
-Of course.

Let's fucking do it.

-Yes?
-But officially,
this is Fafo's scheme.

-If this goes to shit,
it's all on you.
-Absolutely. Absolutely.

-And don't tell the Americans.
-What are you talking about?

What are we going to tell them?
"Hello. Nothing has happened,

and we, we just
wanted you to know."

Do you know what
their government
will do to ours

if we're caught meddling
in the Middle East?

Mona, how are we going
to keep things hidden

if the Americans are involved?

Okay, this is a diplomatic
issue, darling,

-which is none of your concern.
-I agree with Terje.

If we are going to take a risk,

let's take a risk.

Okay.

So...

Here we go.

Mona:
Terje, if this fails...

-If this goes wrong--
-Darling, we have a plan now,

and if it goes wrong,
then we'll improvise.

Our lives will be ruined.

Do you understand?

Yes, I do.

But we have a chance now.

A real chance to
make a difference.

Whatever happens between them,

we will not interfere.

If we are seen
by anyone as favoring

-one side over the oth--
-Darling, I would never
do such a thing.

Then say it.

We will facilitate,

and facilitate only.
Say it.

We will facilitate.

Only.

We will facilitate,
and facilitate...

only.

Thank you.

Your bastards of
immigration with their,

"Stand in that line
and shut your mouth,

and do as you are told."

Like I am some
underwear merchant!

Uh, sorry. I'm sorry.
Everything's fine.
It's all right.

It's all right.
Everything's fine.
It's just a little--

little mix-up.
I'm so sorry.
That wasn't, um,

wasn't part of the, the plan.

You should have been
sent straight through,

no, no questions asked.

Hello. Let me, let me,
let me, let me take your bag.

Good.

All right?

Good trip?

Okay.

Ow.

There is no motorcade?

No. Just me.

Mr. Larsen, we have flown
across the world

in the seating of the coach.

I know, gentlemen,
but this is the best way.

Trust me.

All right.

Ooh! Sorry.

Okay.

Right. Let's go.

From the Palestinian
Liberation Organization,

Mr. Ahmed Qurie,
and his associate,

Mr. Hassan Asfour.

And from the
University of Haifa,

Professor Yair Hirschfeld,
and his associate,

Professor Ron Pundak.

Hello. And, hello.

This regal and historic
guest house

is built on the very site
where 800 years ago,

St. Olaf himself erected
his castle, stone by stone,

as he strove to make
Norway a nation.

And your Olaf was killed,

and his castle destroyed
in a landslide.

Yes, thank you.
Thank you.

Much appreciated.

I don't know about
the rest of you, but...

my God, I find it cold here.

Not as cold as the hearts
of your jack-booted
Zionist soldiers

as they break the bones
of the sons and daughters
of Gaza.

Again, thank you.

Much appreciated.

Gentlemen, you are here
because you know

that you and your people
cannot go on as you have.

That whatever you
personally feel,

you want to find
the way forward.

So, tell me, Abu Ala--

Ahmed Qurie.

I am Ahmed Qurie!

-But your friends
call you Abu Ala, yes?
-Listen--

While here, here,
we are all friends.

And while we are here together,

that must be our one
unbreakable rule.

Now please, follow me.

In that room,
when the door is closed,

you four will talk,

you'll disagree, worse.

But out here,
we'll share our meals.

We'll talk of our families.
We'll light the fire.

Because it's only in
the sharing of the personal

that we can see each other
for who we truly are.

I, uh... we...

accept your rule, and, uh,

we are willing to try.

Between our peoples
lies a vast ocean.

Those who have tried
to cross before us

have turned back, or drowned.

Let us be the first

to step upon the other's shore.

Good.

Good luck.

You mean... it is to be just us?

Out here, I will do
all that you ask,

but in there, I cannot help you.

Only you, together,
can do this.

So what do you think?

I think if Hassan Asfour
doesn't kill us in our sleep,

it will be a miracle.

No, no, no, no.
They must be
facing each other.

Good. Did you get
what I asked for?

The Johnny Walker Black.
Ja.

-How many bottles?
-Four.

We'll need four cases.

-Terje, no!
-What about dinner?

-I will serve herring to start.
-Larsen: Herring. Good.

-A small pasta course.
-Larsen: Excellent.

And roasted pork

-stuffed with sage--
-Oh, no! No, no, no.

No. Out of the question.

-I've already
prepared the dish--
-Serve some fish.

Fish, yes? Salmon.
Salmon, yes?

-Good. Just do it.
-Mr. Larsen--

Yes?

- Okay.
- Thank you. Thank you.

I must speak with
the chairman in Tunis.

Follow me, sir.
If you would.

They say they will take Gaza.

They propose Israel withdraw
all forces from Gaza.

That the territory
will be turned over
to the Palestinians,

who will govern it themselves.

My God.

To be able to pull out of Gaza,

that would end the Intifada!

They, they, they want
to go even further!

They've brought an outline
for a declaration of principles

that spells out precisely
the issues between us

that both sides
agree to address.

What should I do?

-Well, it's, it's easy, Yair.
You just, you--
-Mona: Terje.

Larsen:
Um...

That's not for me to say.

Yair, trust that you need
no road map.

The way will show itself.

That is completely
fucking stupid.

Abu Ala.
His glass is empty.

Thank you, Toril.

It's good wine, yes?

Yes. Wine, yes.

Dinner is excellent.

-Thank you.
-Larsen: Yes, it is.
Thank you.

But Hassan, you've barely
touched your food.

Hassan is from Gaza,

where they are all fishermen,

but hate the sight of fish.

Jan:
What am I supposed
to tell our foreign minister

when he asks
where you are?

Tell him it's a family issue.

Jan, things are moving
faster than we expected.

I have to stay.

No more, Larsen. No more!

I couldn't possibly
have another sip.

Yes, Terje.
No more for me, too.
Not even one drop.

Okay, who's next? Abu Ala,
what about your father?

Yes, it's your turn.
Tell us.

Qurie:
He was born in a village

just outside Jerusalem.

As a child, he would
take me to the Old City,

where the very stones
speak to you.

Through the winding streets
we would go,

until we would emerge
and stand before it.

Then he would say,
"There. There, Ahmed.

"That is the al-Aqsa mosque.

"The beating heart of Jerusalem.

"Wherever you go, boy,

"you must always hold it,

"and this city, here.

For it will always be
your home."

Larsen: And finally...

Hassan.

The, uh, petty bourgeois
construct of family

does not interest me.

The struggle against
the Western capitalist
behemoth...

That is my father.

That's it.

No more sourpuss from him.

Right. I have a joke.

-Ron.
-No, it's good. It's good.

Interpol, the CIA,

and the Mossad,
are chasing a rabbit.

They go to the edge
of the forest.

Interpol searches the forest,
but they can find no rabbit.

The CIA burns down the forest,
but still, no rabbit.

Then Mossad says,
"Give us 30 minutes."

They go in.
Half-hour later, they come out

with a grizzly bear
in a headlock,

with a broken nose
and a black eye,

and the bear is yelling--

-"Okay, I'm a rabbit!
I'm a rabbit!"
-"I'm a rabbit!"

Pundak:
Oh, Mr. Lenin
likes the joke!

I want to tell a joke.

A man is married 40 years.

Then, his wife, she dies.

After the funeral,
after all are gone,

he sits alone in his house.

The shadow of loneliness
falls upon him.

In his solitude,

he cries out,
"I am all alone!

"What will I do now?

"I have no wife!

"No-- No one to
tell me what to do!

No one to tell me
what to say..."

"I am all alone.

"I am all alone.
I am all alo--
I, I, I am all alone!

All alone! I am all alone!"

He looks like Arafat!
No...

Crazy Arafat
gestures on TV!

Do not insult the chairman.

You insult the chairman,
you insult us!

Abu Ala, I didn't mean--
It was a joke--

You think we are
just here as us?

- We are the head
and arms of him!

Friends, please, please,
please, please.

We are the head
and arms of him!

Larsen: Please, please!

We will bury you before you
take our honor--

I have brought waffles.

Oh! There she is.

The one I love is here.

Please. Uh, please.
Sit, gentlemen. Sit.

Sit.

This is the waffle recipe
of my mother,

passed down from her mother.

It is simple, but precise.

Vanilla, sugar...

Butter...

Buttermilk...

Flour...

And the secret is the cardamom.

For the serving,

first you spread
the whipped cream

and the raspberry,

and then you eat.

-Mmm.
-Mmm.

Mmm.

-Wow.
-All: Mmm...

Qurie:
Good. Very good.
Excellent.

Pundak:
Very, very good.
Thank you.

I propose...

that we agree that
there are certain subjects--

people-- we do not discuss,

just as when we are in there.

Red lines.

Which we do not cross.

Yes. Here, let us be friends.

Type everything up on these.

This way,
if either side leaks it,

the other can claim

the entire thing
is an unofficial idea

concocted by your organization.

Larsen:
Gentlemen, thank you

for your willingness
to take part in these
first few steps.

Uh, make sure you've left
nothing behind. No traces.

Yes? Good, good, good.

So, here are the copies
of the new DOP.

And for God sake,
guard them with your life.

One last order of business
before you go.

When we're speaking
on the phone from now on,

we'll refer to Israel
as "the little country."

Prime Minister Rabin

will be "the grandfather."
Shimon Peres, "the father."

Yossi Beilin, "the son."

The PLO we'll call
"those across the sea."

Chairman Arafat

will be "the grandfather,"
of course, also.

And Abu Ala, uh...

"Puntoffle."

What?

It means "slipper,"
Abu Ala, in Yiddish.

You are an even stranger people
than I imagined.

All right.

-I'll see you at home.
-Okay.

May your travels be safe.

And yours.

You are my first...

Jew.

I hope I was not too stringy.

A bit.

But still better than fish.

Fly well, friends.
Be safe.

With those two,
we can go no further.

We must deal directly
with the Israeli government.

Tell Yossi Beilin
it's time to upgrade,

or this is over.

Yossi, the progress
that was made

in one two-day meeting,
it's beyond imagination,

and the Palestinians have
told me they want to return.

Excellent.

So you must see
it's time now to upgrade

the Israeli delegation, yes?

Upgrade?

Terje, Israel has
no delegation to upgrade.

Look at it from the other side.

These are ministers from the PLO

who are risking their lives.

Which as deputy foreign minister
of the State of Israel

is none of my concern.

We've got to give
them something.

Can I least tell them that
Peres is behind this?

He doesn't know?

What-- But you--

-You told me--
-I told you what?

Terje, when people talk to you,

you should really pay attention
to what they actually say.

And not just listen for
whatever you want to hear.

If and when something occurs

that I deem worthy enough

to bring to the foreign
minister's attention,

then he will know.

For now, I and I alone know.

Here I was worried
the Palestinians are
running a rogue operation.

-It turns out it's
the fucking Israelis.
-Yes.

Well, things are a bit more
complicated than we thought.

Complicated? Are you serious?

Mona, you told me that
Peres was on board.

And now Beilin is saying
the opposite.

Look, I want to help
as much as you do.

But we are government officials

who could now be accused
of conspiring

with another government's
official. We...

We could be fired.
Jailed. Worse.

Wait. Wait. What if
we're missing something?

We're not telling Holst,

in order to protect him
and the ministry.

What if Beilin is just
doing the same?

Look, the moment he tells Peres,

Peres will have to tell
Prime Minister Rabin,

and then things
will become official.

And once they're official,

then this whole channel is over.

So, as long as Peres
remains in the dark,

then Beilin can keep
pushing the process forward.

See how far things go.

Oh. I see.

So then we push on.

Right?

One more meeting.

Discreet. Under wraps.

But Mona, we need an upgrade

from the Israeli delegation,
or this won't work.

Yeah, I know.

Reporter:
In response to the
escalating violence

between Israeli and
Palestinian civilians,

Prime Minister Rabin
has sealed Gaza.

Yitzhak Rabin:
On one hand,

we would like the Gazans
to work in Israel,

because otherwise,

they don't have
any source of income

to sustain themselves.

At the same time,
I am responsible

for the security
of the people of Israel.

And how to mitigate
between the two,

this is the key problem.

Beilin:
For God's sake, Terje,

our people are being
murdered in the streets!

If our grandfather
did not close the border,

-he would have been
hounded from office.
-Yossi-- Yossi, I understand.

I more than understand.
I empathize.

But those across the sea
are emphatic.

They say the little country
must upgrade their delegation.

Beilin:
You tell Puntoffle
that when he puts

something on the table
of substance,

then we will consider
his request.

But they are not--

Qurie:
Larsen? Larsen?

What do they say?

Puntoffle, hello.
The son, uh,

wishes me to
respectfully inform you

that, uh, when a more
substantial offer
is put forth,

uh, your request for,
uh, an upgrade, uh,
will be considered.

Qurie:
Fuck him!
He's a fucking bastard!

We have offered to take
Gaza off their hands!

We are the ones whose lives
hang in the balance!

They will not upgrade,
so I will not return.

They will upgrade.

-Terje--
-Qurie: They will?

-Larsen: Uh, yeah.
-Qurie: Who are they sending?

-What are you doing?
-I don't know the details yet,

but, but an upgrade is coming.

Qurie:
How do you know this?

Uh, Mona told me.

-What?
-She's met with the son
from the little country,

and she made him promise
that if you return to Oslo,

then they'll send an upgrade.

Guaranteed.

-Qurie: Mona has done this?
-Yeah.

Qurie:
Swear it to me, Larsen.

On the soul of your wife.

I swear on the soul of my wife.

You've got to trust me.

Qurie:
I trust Mona.

Without her, you are nothing.

Book the flight.

Thank you.

Mona: Ahem.

Whoo.

Do you have any idea
what you have done?

You have promised
something I cannot do.

-But Yossi will upgrade.
-How do you know that?

-Because, Mona. He will.
-That's not an answer, Terje.

Okay, darling,

just look at all we've achieved.

That you have now jeopardized
by your recklessness.

By your total disregard
of everything we agreed to.

A hundred years of hatred
and bloodshed teetering
on the cusp of change.

We've gotta do
whatever it takes.

Except lying to them, Terje!

-Only a bungling amateur lies.
-Oh, God.

You are so fucking Norwegian!

Everything is a fucking problem.

Everything is an objection!

I am on the phone with
them day and night,

fighting to stay on my feet,

and all you want me to do
is sink to my fucking knees!

This is finished, Terje.

It's finished.

Unless we do one thing.

What?

Tell Holst what we are doing.

-No. No, Mona.
He's a megalomaniac.
-Yes.

And now, that megalomaniac
is exactly what we need.

Holst does nothing
in half measures.

If we can convince him,

he'll throw the full weight
of the ministry behind us.

He will help us
get that upgrade,

and then we will
make this happen.

Larsen:
You...

are the most extraordinary woman

-who has ever lived.
-No, Terje, we don't
have time for this.

-There are no words...
-Terje, we don't have
time for this.

-to describe how
wonderful you are.
-Stop talking. Stop talking.

The violation of protocol
has been totally inappropriate.

-I agree.
-My God, the risks.

Not even a security detail.

That was Larsen's idea.

Driving alone,
middle of the night.
Rental cars.

-Again Larsen.
-Mmm.

Minister Holst,

in but one meeting,
the Israelis and ourselves

have made progress
beyond all hopes.

With your support,

our secret channel

will continue to feed
fresh water

to the official
Washington-sponsored talks.

You are your nation's
greatest statesman.

Only you can move
our two peoples towards

a true and lasting peace.

At all further meetings,

there will be an elite,
two-man security detail

chosen by me.

Agreed.

My deputy, Jan Egeland,

-will run all further liaisons
between the PLO and--
-No!

It must be Larsen.

His ways are strange,

but through his methods,

we have begun a true dialogue
between our peoples.

If we are to succeed,
it must be him,

for this one speaks truth
to both sides.

He does not lie.

-Do you, Larsen?
-No.

Thank you, Minister Holst.

-We will meet again.
-Thank you.

Nice to have another
professor with us.

Welcome. Hope you
enjoyed your flight.

Such a pleasure
to meet you.
An honor. Truly.

Your security detail
is calling attention.
Send them on ahead.

Yes, um, sorry. Uh...

Hirschfeld:
Are there any details
you'd like us to brief you on?

Obviously, a great
distance still to go,

but as you heard from Yossi,

the progress--
it's been dizzying.

We should be sitting down,
ah?

I have to take a piss.

Gentlemen, I'd like
to introduce Uri Savir,

director general of the
Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Uri Savir, please meet Abu Ala,

and Hassan Asfour.

I am here at
the personal request

and as the voice
of Shimon Peres.

And I am here at
the personal request

and as the voice
of Yasser Arafat.

Welcome to Oslo.

Let us begin.

The idea of this DOP
was yours, yes?

Yes, it was.

What is your official response
to our concrete proposals there?

I have no response
to an unofficial document.

What I have is
a mandate to negotiate

in full with you.

What you have all done
in this room so far

is discuss the idea of peace.

I have been sent here
to try and negotiate
actual peace.

So...

Let us put our cards
on the table.

In my country,

we see you as terrorists
and murderers

who wish to drive us
into the sea.

You killed our athletes
in Munich.

Murdered our school children
in Ma'alot,

invaded us
and spilled our blood
on Yom Kippur,

the highest holy day we have.

So you will understand
when I say

that we do not view you as
ideal partners for peace.

In my country,
we see you as a savage nation,

whose army shoots our children
for sport.

Your people persecuted
for your faith--

murdered in Pogroms,
fled to Palestine,

where you were
left alone to pray,

and strive, and grow strong.

And when you became strong,

you burned our homes,

drove a million people
from Palestine,

and claim to this day

that there was never
such a thing as Palestine!

So, you will understand
our mistrust of you

as ideal partners for peace.

Okay.

Now that we've both
swung our dicks,

let me say this.

We are tired of being
at war with you.

We are committed to ending
the cycle of violence
and enmity.

But I want to be clear.

Israel will not sacrifice
its security.

And you will never have
that security, Mr. Savir,

until you make peace with us.

For our region of the world

will never accept you
until we accept you.

Much of this,
we are willing to discuss.

But let me be clear.

Israel will not negotiate
over the sovereignty

of the city of Jerusalem.

We will never relinquish
our right to Jerusalem,

just as we will never
relinquish our right

to a Palestinian state.

The possibility of
a Palestinian state

without Jerusalem as its capital

is a viable topic,

if you're willing to drop
your further impossible demand

that all issues not
resolved in this DOP

be referred to third-party
international arbitration.

You are Goliath to our David!

A neutral arbitrator
is essential.

Give me one country
that voluntary cedes
national sovereignty,

like you're proposing we do.

The newly formed
European Union
comes to mind.

Not those fucking pansies.
I mean a real country.

We can talk in circles,

or we can start to
get something done.

Now, we are willing to
relinquish control of Gaza--

Which we will accept,
on condition that you

relinquish control
of Jericho to us

at the same time.

Are you fucking serious?

Gaza alone would
make us an island,

surrounded by a sea
of Israeli forces.

I've been talking of nothing

but Israel's concern
for our security,

and now you're asking us
to give you control of a city

-20 kilometers
from Jerusalem?
-I am talking about

our city in our West Bank!

Your country divides
my people in two!

So we must have
a foothold in Gaza

and the West Bank!

Savir:
We'll give you Gaza,

and when you show
you can stop

the killing of our
soldiers in Gaza,

then we'll talk about Jericho.

That is from
Shimon Peres himself.
Take it or leave it.

I leave it.

You two... come with me.

Alone.

-Larsen: Uri--
-Shh, shh!

My God, this day!

I mean, life is nothing
if not surprising.
Am I right, huh? Huh?

-Yes, yes.
That's very, very true.
-Yes, absolutely.

Come. Let's have a dance.

I'll tell you a secret.

I was nervous as hell
to meet those two.

First members of the PLO

I've ever been
face-to-face with.

So what do you think of them?

Not the demons I was expecting.

This Ahmed--
What do you call him?

-Abu Ala.
-Abu Ala.

Mmm-hmm.

I can do business with this man.

I think this is going to work.

It's okay.

-There's been a leak.
-What?

Agence France-Presse
is reporting a secret
Norwegian channel

between Israel and the PLO.

A small piece, buried,
but our press have read it

and they want to know
what the hell is going on.

My God. How are we going
to break this news to Holst?

We're not going to tell him.

You'll release a statement

that Agence France-Presse
is clearly referring to
the meeting

on the Palestinian
refugee situation

that we are officially,

and openly, about to host.

We're not lying, Jan.

We're choosing
our words carefully.

Savir:
I told everyone in my office

I'm off to Paris
for the weekend.

I land at De Gaulle,

take the car to the hotel,

check in, go to my room.

After 20 minutes,

I hang the "Do Not Disturb"
sign on the door,

and head back to the airport...

Incognito.

The flight from Paris
here to Oslo,

completely packed...

with Iranians!

-Whoa!
-Oh, ho-ho-ho!
What did you do?

What do you think I did, huh?

I shit my pants.

Thank you so much.
Abu Ala, you were right.

This woman is
a national treasure.

Qurie:
Aah, just you wait!

For now, we are approaching

the hour of the waffles!

Savir:
Look who's here. Mona!

Qurie:
Hey, hey, hey!

-We must toast Mona.
-Yes.

-No, no, no, no, no--
-We must praise you.

No, you can't stop us.
We must praise you.

To Mona.

Without her, we are nothing.

-Yes. To Mona.
-To Mona!

All:
Mona! Mona! Mona!

Mona! Mona! Mona! Mona!

Qurie:
Last night, in there,

you said the eventuality

-of a Palestinian state...
-Savir: I did not!

-I did not.
-...is a viable topic
for this discussion.

-Please. Din--
-Possibility of the Palestinian
state is what I said.

Dinner is about to be served,
gentlemen.

If you want
to discuss the idea

of the eventuality
of a Palestinian state,

then first you must address
our security concerns.

Your concerns are demands,

and I will not be demanded to.

Savir:
We must have proof
that the PLO

will cease all
terrorist activities

against all Israeli citizens.
Hassan.

Hassan.
Hassan! I'm right here.

You want to say something,
say it to my face.

Okay.

You sit there, comrade,

with your colonial superiority,

dictating what our future
will or will not be.

Yet somehow,

with your intelligence service,
your army,

your nuclear weapons,

you are threatened by us.

So, are you the master
who must be obeyed,

or the victim who
must be coddled,

because you cannot be both!

Tell me something, Hassan.

Did you get those talking points

mailed to you from Moscow?

Or did you copy
them down yourself?

- Your future will be
dictated by us!

If you think we are
going to roll over

on the issue of our security,

you are sorely mistaken!

Your nation is surrounded
by 350 million of us!

You will have no security
until we have our dignity.

Until we have security,

-you will have nothing.
-Now you reveal
your true face!

Now we see the scoundrel
you are!

I'm fine.
It's all right.

I'm fine.

Forgive my outburst.

It was unworthy.

Please allow me to make amends.

Perhaps you and I
could walk together.

If you wish.

I admire the way you fight.

Thank you.

I admire your passion.

My daughter says, with me,

passion is another word
for pigheaded.

She says, "Papa,
all you care about
is being right."

I say, "Maya,

"if a man does not fight
for what he believes,

who is he?"

Maya?

Yes. My daughter.

My daughter is named Maya.

My youngest.
She is the light
of my life.

I wish my father
had lived to see this.

Though he would not have been
crazy about the weather.

This is a true tragedy
that we were approached

by the Norwegians,

and not the Californians.

-Oh, my God.
Are they laughing?
-Terje.

If you take one more step,
I swear I will divorce you.

Is your father still with us?

My father lives in Abu Dis,

near Jerusalem.

Do you want me to take
a letter to him,

bring a message from you?

No.

The day I am able to
leave Tunis and return,

that is the day
he and I will speak.

But thank you.

Savir:
Abu Ala,

our peoples live in the past.

Both obsessing over...

over what we have lost.

Let us find a way
to live in the present.

Together.

We will agree to drop our demand

that outstanding
quarrels between us

be referred to third-party
international arbitration.

And we will agree

to negotiate
turning over Gaza...

and Jericho.

You and I, Abu Ala...

We are going to
change the world.

What the fuck is this?

Who the fuck negotiated this?

You try negotiating this.

It's a working document.

It's a fucking Hanukkah present
to Yasser Arafat.

-Savir:
This is what Peres wanted.
-Fuck Peres.

Peres answers to Rabin
just like the rest of us.

This flies in the face of
40 years of Israeli policy.

We turn over control of Gaza,

and Jericho?

The inclusion of Jerusalem
in Palestinian self-rule?

-Joel, these are just
talking points--
-Jerusalem.

Is this why our grandparents
founded this country?

So we could do this?

In four months, we've gone
from not even conceiving

of meeting these people to that.

Forty years, nothing.

Now four months, that.

Every negotiating round,

my counterpart calls
PLO headquarters in Tunis,

and speaks directly to Arafat.

Every point.

Every concession
these men have made

has been signed off on
by Arafat.

Who in the government
knows this document exists?

The three of us, and Peres.

And Rabin.

It's written like mush.

The janitor in my law firm
would have done a better job.

Every sentence here
could be read to mean

anything by either side.

It's a fucking time bomb.

So diffuse it, Joel.

Rabin trusts you,
and you alone, to do it.

We are not lawyers.
We need your expertise.

Go through this "mush."

Figure out if it can be
turned into

a real binding document or not.

Nothing more can happen
between Israel and the PLO

unless you tell us it's a go.

-Shalom, friends.
-Abu Ala.

Hassan,
it is my great pleasure

-to introduce you to--
-They know who I am
and I know who they are.

We don't have time
for chit-chat.

I've read the text

of the joint document
created here,

and I've come with 200
questions about this document.

We reject your questions,

as we reject your tone.

These questions come directly
from Yitzhak Rabin.

I am here at his
personal request.

When you're speaking to me,

you're speaking to
the prime minister of Israel.

I have until 0600 hours.

We'll need to work
through the night.

Let's get started.

Do you know who this man is?

Joel Singer wrote the
military rules of engagement

the Zionist army used
to crush our people.

We are now in the boat
with the enemy himself.

Each of these 200 questions
requires a precise answer.

When I'm satisfied
with your answer,

we'll move on to
the next question.

"If the State of Israel

"agrees to cede
control of Jericho

"and its surrounding
territory,

"will the proposed
Palestinian authority

"collect Israeli garbage?

Or only Palestinian garbage?"

This is your question?

Well, this is my first question.

No, we will not collect
Israeli garbage.

"If the State of Israel agrees
to cede control of Jericho

"and its surrounding territory,

"will the proposed
Palestinian authority

"be prepared to send

"tax collectors

into Israeli settlements?"

Mr. Singer, we did not
fly across the world

to speak of garbage and taxes.

Garbage and taxes

is what a government does.

If you want us to
give you the authority

to be a government,
then this joint document

must spell out exactly how

you will be a government.

I must speak with Tunis.

Coffee?

How many times
is Mr. Qurie going to do this?

We've already lost
an hour and a half.

Singer:
Why are you doing this?

You and your husband?

Well, if you were
in our shoes, Mr. Singer,

wouldn't you do the same?

No.

That's why I'm asking.

Terje and I were touring Gaza.

Part of my work while
I was stationed in the region.

We took a wrong turn
down an alley.

We were fine.

Others were not.

There were two boys
facing each other.

One in uniform.
One in jeans.

But on their faces,
the same fear.

The same desperate desire
to be anywhere but here.

To not be doing this
to the other boy.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

I understand our role here.

But I think you should know...

Whenever Abu Ala
goes to use the phone
and call Tunis,

he does not call Tunis.

Who does he call?

No one.

He sits in his room,
staring at the wall.

When enough time for
a phone call has passed,

he comes back in
with new instructions.

Thank you.

-Trond?
-Yeah?

Just keep this between
you and me. Yes?

Don't tell Mona.
I'll take care of it.

So, the phrase
"Israeli settlements

abutting the city of Jericho,"
is vague and imprecise.

-Which settlements, what other--
-Settlements and boundaries,

as per article four, page 32,

of the working document
of the official
Washington talks.

Singer:
Show me the language
of this document.

My copy of this document
resides here.

Your copy is your business.

Question number 200.

Are you willing to state herein

that you recognize
the legitimacy

of the State of Israel?

We will agree in this document

to accept the existence
of the State of Israel.

We know we exist,
and we know you see
that we exist.

What this document requires
is for you to acknowledge

the legitimacy of our existence.

Qurie:
Mr. Singer,

when you are willing
to state herein

that the Palestine Liberation
Organization is the official

voice of the Palestinian people,

then we will revisit
your legitimacy.

Your answers to my questions
were clear and direct,

for which you have
our thanks and our respect.

On behalf of Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin

and the State of Israel,

we make this offer
that this back channel

will become
the official channel.

But what of the
Washington-sponsored talks?

They'll continue,
and no one involved
in those talks

will know that what
they are doing is now

nothing but a ruse.

You both will negotiate.

You and I will write.

In this room,
we four will forge peace,

or there will be no peace.

Lighter.

-Mona: Jan,
you cannot drop out.
-Yes, I can, Mona.

And if you have
a shred of sense left,
you will do the same.

But this process needs you.

-Look at what has just happened!
-Exactly. Look.

I mean, my God, it's one thing
for a peace process

to have a secret back channel.

Now the actual
peace process itself
is a secret.

-Yes, I know, but--
-The future of two
peoples is now

being decided
without accountability,

without transparency,
by a handful of men

who have no mandate to do so.

-But that was always the ca--
-If you continue down this path,

and the world finds out
what you are all doing,

there will be riots.

Blood will be spilled.

When I was a young man,

I told my mother
that my dearest wish

was to become a fighter pilot.

She said she would allow it
on one condition:

that I fly very slowly,
and very close to the ground.

I replied, "But, Mother,
for a pilot to be safe,

he must fly very fast,
and very high."

Peres: I adore your shoes.

-Larsen: Oh, thank you.
-Peres: Do you have
them stretched,

or break them in yourself?

Stretched, of course.

That way, they fit like a glove.

Shimon, if you could.

Arafat, and the PLO.

Look, if this deal
does not happen,

the PLO will be so hollowed out,

so bereft of victories

it may well cease to exist.

This, we cannot allow.

For Israel needs
the PLO to exist.

Arafat is tricky,
but he is a man.

And a man aches
for one thing above all:

his home.

Tell Uri to tell Abu Ala

that if Arafat makes
this deal with us,

I will allow him and the rest
of the PLO leadership

to return to Gaza.

Beilin:
Arafat,

and the PLO in Gaza?

If we are to be bold,
it must be now.

Get them all back to Oslo
for one last round.

And we tell
the Americans nothing.

But Shimon, nothing?

I was this close to making peace

with King Hussein
and the Jordanians,

until the Americans got wind,
and scuttled it.

This, they will not scuttle.

But the Americans could
ask us directly, any moment.

If they ask any of us,

we say the back
channel is closed.

You mean flat-out lie?

What is a lie but a dream
that could come true?

Fast and high, my friends.

It is the only way.

BBC anchor:
As Israel's assault
on Hezbollah continues,

the refugees
streaming toward Beirut

have now reached
upwards of 200,000.

The Palestinians have
spent the day trapped

between the Lebanese army
and Israel's allies.

The Palestinians have been
marching for a mile

through this desolate
nomad's land,

when they came under fire.

A tank round landed
only a hundred yards
in front of them...

- while machine gunfire
whistled over their heads.

Many of the Palestinians
started to pray

as the gunfire
echoed around them.

It was a clear warning
to these men from
the Israeli's proxies

not to go any closer
to the border.

Abu Ala, tomorrow
we will finish this.

BBC anchor:
This man was seriously
wounded in the face.

-We will find a way.
-Reporters took him
to hospital.

Tonight, the Palestinians
are still on the road,

out in the open.

Two Palestinians
were hit by shrapnel

from the SLA's fire,

and this evening,
the Lebanese prime minister

announced he was stopping
any more aid reaching them,

a clear attempt to increase
the world's concern,

and the Israeli's
embarrassment.

Robert Moore, ITN,
on the Israeli-
Lebanese border.

-It's a disaster!
-Yair, what is?

-What's going on?
-Months of work ruined

by that son of a bitch!

What this Singer has brought,

it's, it's almost
a complete rewrite!

The DOP we made together,
it's disappeared.

Singer took out that we agreed
to give them Jericho,

and he put in that they agreed
to everything we asked for.

You have to fix this.

-Yair, I can't--
-Hirschfeld: No, no!

Mona, you are the one
they will listen to.

No. I, I can only facilitate.
I cannot interfere.

No! You are part of this now.

It has to be you.

Go. In. Now!

How--

Okay.

Asfour:
This is not a "joint approach."

-Larsen: Wait--
-This is an Israeli occupation.

You have no right
to tell us

how our army will
deal with our people.

Singer:
We are not going
one step further

until you agree,
as written there,

that the violence ceases
when you are in charge.

Asfour:
Uh, we are in Tunis.

Those who are occupied
began the Intifada.

It is theirs to end
when they see fit.

Then why the fuck
are we talking to you?

Joel, I am negotiating, yes?

-Then let me negotiate!
-Qurie: Uri, why do you
refuse to recognize

the historic compromises
we have already made?

You have made? Abu Ala,
we are giving you land.

-We are shrinking the size
of our country!
-Hey, this is not land

for you to give,
but to give back!

This is land you fucking lost
because you invaded us,

and we kicked
your fucking ass.

And where in this,
where is Jerusalem?

You put Jerusalem
back on the table,

and everything is over.

You go on like this,

you will never stop
being the occupier,

and we will never
stop fighting you!

Your fighting is killing
your own children!

Our fighting has forced you

to stand in this room,
and deal with us!

My friend, my friend,
listen to me,

-together we can fix this.
-Singer: He works for me!

Let us be fucking clear, Joel.
You are here for Yitzhak,

-I'm here for Shimon.
-You are here with me.

to make these people,
for once,

keep their fucking word.

Enough! Enough!

Eh, eh.

You will accept this document
that we've all agreed to.

All of us. Or we are done.

Write this down.

At exactly 0900 hours,

28th of July, 1993.

The Oslo PLO-Israeli
channel was closed.

Listen to me, please.

You have fought and killed
each other for 50 years.

Your mothers,
your daughters,
your sons have died,

and nothing has changed.

The world has washed
its hands of this conflict

because it does not believe

that you can change.

No one else is coming
to help you.

This is up to you.

You grow more isolated
by the year--

the day--

as your soldiers occupy land
you do not even want.

That you are desperate
to leave.

And you, you are
stranded in Tunis,

yet here now, you are
being offered that land.

A return home.

To govern yourselves.

This is your chance.

You cannot afford
to miss this moment.

Look at the risks you have
already taken together.

Now please, sit back down
and find a way.

Please.

I'm willing to start over.

See what we can see.

Begin with article eight.

They are clearly open
to meeting you halfway
on this issue.

Savir:
End of article eight.

The sentence,
"Israel will continue to carry
all responsibilities,"

must be followed
by the words

"for defending against
external threats

or terrorist threats."

Qurie:
In article eight,
we will accept

"external threats,"
but not "terrorist threats."

Agreed.

The long-standing
UN Resolution 242 and 338

criticizing
the Israeli occupation

must be included
in this document.

That, we categorically reject.

But if you are willing
to postpone discussion

-on the future of
Israeli settlements--
-No. We will not.

But,

the right to return
for those displaced

in the '67 war,

this, we agree to postpone
to a later date.

Savir:
And if you are willing to accept

our control of border security,

we will withdraw
all our forces from Gaza,

and Jericho, at the same time.

The city of Jerusalem
will be capital for both.

Savir and Singer:
No!

- Larsen.
- -Beilin: Terje.

This is the son calling with
a message from the father.

The father says you need
to assemble your team

and fly tomorrow in secret
to Stockholm, Sweden.

Tomorrow night,
the father will be attending

a state dinner over there,
and after dinner,

he will meet you and your team
at the royal guest house.

And... then he will make it.

Make what?

Peace.

With those across the sea.

We are going to finish it,
Terje.

Tomorrow night.

So, how long will you be
with Mr. Peres tonight?

As long as Mr. Peres wishes.

Terje:
Um, uh,

perhaps we could get
something to eat?

It's late.
Could that be arranged?

The kitchen is closed.

Oh. Mr. Foreign Minister.

How was your function?

Long.

May I get you something
from the kitchen?

No, thank you.

This couple is not
on the official list

for the guest house.

Good.

You may leave us.

Holst is still
at the reception,
but he's coming.

This is the latest draft,
with Singer's markings.

Let's get started.

But where are the Palestinians?

The Palestinians are not coming.

We are doing this
on the phone.

You will ring Tunis.

Tell them I'm calling,
and have them put
Arafat on the line.

Is the PLO leadership
expecting your call?

The PLO leadership

has never spoken to
the Israeli leadership,
ever.

But the chairman and I
are the only ones

who can make the necessary
and painful final compromises.

Since he and I can have
no contact of any kind,

we will use Holst
as our intermediary.

Now dial Tunis,
and find Arafat.

The night is not young,
my friends,

and we have a long way to go.

"Dial Tunis"?
Like there's one
phone number there?

This is Arafat.
He's not reachable by phone.

Oh...

-Where is Abu Ala?
-I don't know.

-Is he in Tunis?
-I don't know, Mona.

What are you doing?

I'm going to call
every possible number

where Abu Ala could be staying.

He'll know how to reach Arafat.

Oh, my God.

Christ! It's almost midnight.

We are running out of time.

Mr. Peres has retired
for this evening,

so this office is closed.

No, Mr. Peres will be
joining us again

in a few moments.

Uh, may we use
your copy machine?

-The copy machine is closed.
-Terje: Thank you.

Qurie:
Hello?

-Terje.
-Qurie: Can you hear me?

-Can you hear me?
-Yes, yes, Puntoffle.

Listen to me.
I'm calling for the father.

He wishes to speak
with your grandfather.

He wants to finish it.
On this phone. Now.
Tonight.

Do you understand?

Qurie:
Yes, I do.
I will call you back.

No, no, no, no, no.
Don't call me back.

Qurie:
I will call you back.

Puntoffle, listen--

I'm sorry. It's stuck
in the copy machine,

and I can't get it out.

Well, then ask her for help.

But she said
we could not use it.

I-I will fix it.

Qurie:
Larsen, I am here.

Puntoffle. Thank God.

Qurie:
I am with the grandfather.

Terje:
Excellent.

Qurie:
And with the entire
ruling council.

We have just informed them
of our channel,

and what is to now transpire.

Wow. Okay.
And, uh... and...

The news.
How are they taking it?

Qurie:
Let's move on.

The grandfather's English
is not as he wishes.

Therefore, he asks
that I speak for and to him.

I understand.

Qurie:
And I ask that you, Larsen,

are the one I speak to.

For here,
what men begin together,

men must finish together.

I'll get Shimon.

It is a total breach
of protocol.

If you are uneasy
in any way--

I understand.
And it is.

But Johan Jorgen,
I think we must acknowledge

that now we are all
very far beyond

the bounds of protocol.

Let us begin.

The father repeats his demand

regarding future settlements.

Qurie:
No!

Not unless UN Resolutions
242 and 338

are to be included
in this document!

No!

-Okay.
-Qurie: Official boundaries

of all Israeli settlements

abutting the city of Jericho

must be set by both parties.

Larsen:
The father says to tell
the grandfather

the little country has
already compromised
on this issue.

Let me pass that on.

The grandfather says yes.

Yes. He's, he's willing
to accept that.

Yes? All right.
Good. Good. Thank you.

Ugh. Um...

the grandfather says
he's going to bed.

Call him when--
when you change your mind.

-Aah!
-Qurie: We will accept
that their forces

be in charge of
border security.

But our forces must
have joint control

of all checkpoints.

Tell him our checkpoints,
our soldiers.

We will not cede this point.

Qurie:
Tell him we will burn
this document

and wage war upon you
until the last days of time!

But also that we are open
to a counterproposal.

We will accept

that the Palestine
Liberation Organization...

is the official voice

of the Palestinian people.

Qurie:
We will accept...

the legitimacy of
the State of Israel.

Jerusalem will remain
solely the capital of Israel.

-Qurie: No!
-Non-negotiable!

Qurie:
Larsen! Larsen!

This is not the bluffing!

Larsen:
Wait.

In the name of
constructive ambiguity,

we will accept that

in the final stage
of further negotiations,

the future of Jerusalem

will be addressed.

Qurie:
We accept this document.

As do we.

Abu Ala...

what is that sound?

Qurie:
They are crying.

All of them.

They did not think

they would live
to see this day.

Rabin:
Let me say to you,
the Palestinians,

we are destined
to live together,

on the same soil,
in the same land.

We, the soldiers
who have returned
from battles

stained with blood;

we, who have
come from a land

where parents
bury their children;

we, who have
fought against you,

the Palestinians,

we say to you today,

in a loud and a clear voice,

enough of blood and tears.

Enough.

Mona:
"The Oslo channel

"began with the hopes
of creating a dialogue

"between adversaries.

"Already, this process
has succeeded

"beyond anything we imagined:

"The establishment
of a Palestinian state.

"Movement towards
a peace treaty

between Israel
and Jordan."

"And yet, undoubtedly,

objection to this process
is coming."

I am very shocked for this
awful and terrible crime...

against one of the brave
leaders of Israel.

And a peacemaker.

Mona:
"For the efforts
of any peoples

"to bridge their hatreds
is always met by some

"with fierce resistance.

"But whatever
mistakes were made,

"whatever unintended events
have been unleashed,

"I still believe this channel
was worth doing.

"For if we do not sit
across from our enemies,

"and hear them,

"and see them
as human beings,

what will become of us?"