We invite the public to a free screening of the award-winning documentary, "Where Olive Trees Weep." The film gives background to the current crisis in Palestine/Israel and brings to light the lives of people in the occupied West Bank. Their universally human stories speak of intergenerational pain, trauma and resilience under occupation. We hope they touch your heart, stir compassion and understanding, and give rise to a pursuit for justice. For without justice, peace remains an empty slogan.

The event is sponsored by local peace group, Peoria for Palestine, and local companies, SciFUNction and Zero-Emission Lawn Care.

Tara Wood

Where Olive Trees Weep

Free Public Screening

Maral Quttieneh

Zaya Benazzo

Maurizio Benazzo

Ashira Darwish

Finley MacNeil

Caroline Campbell

Nickoloz Kachibaia

Yasen Stoev

Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We witness Dr. Gabor Maté offering trauma-healing work for a group of women who have been tortured in Israeli prisons. Ancient landscapes bear deep scars, having witnessed the brutal reality of ancestral land confiscation, expulsions, imprisonment, home demolitions, water deprivation, and denial of basic human rights. Yet, through the veil of oppression, we catch a glimpse of resilience—deep roots that have carried the Palestinian people through decades of darkness and shattered lives. This emotional journey bares the humanity of the oppressed while grappling with the question: what makes the oppressor so ruthlessly blind to its own cruelty?

Documentary

The event will be held at the Peoria Main Branch Library (107 NE Monroe St) in the Main Auditorium (Lower Level 2). Parking is free at the library on Saturdays. Parking lot and library are wheelchair accessible. There will be light snacks and beverages.