"West Bank Story," a musical set in conflict, wins Oscar

LOS ANGELES, Feb 26 (Reuters) A musical satire about dueling Arab and Israeli falafel stands on the West Bank took home an Oscar for best live action short film. Its title? ''West Bank Story.'' ''Oh my God,'' the film's shocked US director, Ari Sandel, said in accepting the award. ''I made a comedy, a musical about Israelis and Palestinians that takes place between two falafel stands in the West Bank. It's a movie about peace and hope.'' ''To get this award goes to show that there are so many people who support that notion,'' said the California-born director, adding that hope for peace was not ''hopeless.'' The title is a play on the Hollywood classic ''West Side Story'' about rival New York gangs.

David, an Israeli soldier, falls in love with the beautiful Palestinian cashier Fatima despite the animosity between their families' dueling restaurants and centuries of West Asia conflict.

REUTERS SHB RN0903