'Omar' star features in new short film against Israeli military conscription

‘Omar’ star Samer Bisharat is the protagonist of a new short film launched by Palestinian citizens of Israel campaigning against military conscription.

‘Project X’ is the result of collaboration between Palestinian civil society organizations 7amleh – Arab Center for Social Media Advancement, Baladna – Association for Arab youth and the Arab Cultural Association (ACA). The film forms part of a wider campaign, ‘I am Arab, I will not serve’, that aims to raise awareness about and opposition to recruitment drives by the Israeli military targeting Palestinian citizens.

According to Baladna, “the film takes a different and creative approach to this highly politicized topic” with its “artistic expression of loss of identity and self”. The film is intended, they say, “for at-risk youth to question and consider the consequences of military service.”

The film was directed by Eyad Barghouti and directed by Nadim Hamed.