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Script Proposal

On March 23, 2016, media reports announced that Syrian government forces had liberated the historic center of Palmyra from ISIS.

From a military perspective, Palmyra held little strategic value. ISIS utilized it for the psychological impact. The place exerts a unique power due to its distinctiveness.

According to the Bible, Palmyra was established by the Israelite King Solomon as an advanced stronghold against Aramean hordes’ attacks on his territories. Its strategic location enabled ancient Palmyra to flourish as a major trade and cultural hub by the 1st century AD.

Tell about: the culture and daily life of the people in Palmyra.

Explain how it was destroyed by ISIS. BBC video: 20 sec. highlighting the extensive destruction.

Over 700 monuments, reliefs, tombs, and temple columns suffered damage due to the terrorists’ actions. One could see what remained intact only through available videos: 35 sec.

Pre-finale, two versions:

• The destruction was halted on March 23. EU leaders and Obama remained silent.
• Obama is not to blame. He mentioned in an interview with The Atlantic (scrolling through the website) that he did not support bombing Syria. The ones to blame are Hillary Clinton, Cameron, and Hollande.

UNESCO has already outlined plans for the restoration of Palmyra. Prominent historians and restorers, including Russian experts from the Hermitage Museum, are involved. Their contribution is pivotal, given that the museum houses unique documents and artifacts (Life video featuring exhibits: 25 sec.). Symbolically, the city named Northern Palmyra will aid in Palmyra’s restoration.