Today Israel celebrates its 30th anniversary. Thirty years ago James Cameron stood on the quay-side at Haifa and watched the Union Jack come down for the last time on a British Mandate. Hours later, in Tel Aviv, David Ben -Gurion proclaimed the independence of the state and created a new nation.
And now JAMES CAMERON returns, once again, to Israel to find out what kind of a state it has become. In what ways has it fulfilled the hopes and dreams of its founding fathers? A state which has known no peace in its time, in which nearly all its citizens are soldiers - just how militaristic is it? A state with many of its inhabitants oriental immigrants and Arabs - does it have its own ghettos and second-class citizens? A state which puts into practice the kibbutz ideals of communal living-do these ideals have any meaning to its young people today? A state with two thirds of its land inhospitable sand - how far has it managed to turn the desert green?
Written and narrated by JAMEf: CAMERON
Research TRISTAN ALLSOF
Film cameraman NAT CROSBY Sound recordist SIMON WILSON Film editor IAN PITCH
Producer EDWARD MIRZOEFF
Tonight in Israel: 11.5 pm BBCl