In Jerusalem shortly after the Six Day War, tensions between Israelis and Palestinians run high in the newly Israeli occupied West Bank where numerous attacks in the Old City interest the Israeli police. They determine that Raschid Rafaat is the leader of the Palestinian group behind the activity, but remain unaware of a simultaneous battle going on between rival Palestinian gangs. One afternoon, American archaeology graduate student David Armstrong meets with longtime friend Raschid at a café, only to be fired upon by a rival Palestinian gang in a passing car. One of Raschid’s men is killed, but Raschid pushes David to the ground, knocking him out. At the hospital later, David learns from Israeli security agent Maj. Samuels that Raschid fled the scene, abandoning David and his dead cohort. When Samuels presses David for information on Raschid, David refuses to cooperate. Upon hearing of the attack, David’s archaeology professor Lang arrives at the hospital and insists on seeing his student. After Samuels implies that he will arrest David for his silence, Lang angrily calls on Samuels’ superior, Gen. Joseph Mayer, with whom he has a long association. Mayer authorizes David’s release but places him under Lang’s supervision. Samuels grudgingly allows David to leave the hospital but keeps the student’s passport and has him followed. Later, David meets with Lang and is angered when the professor also asks about his friendship with various Palestinians. Lang scolds David for his naiveté, then recommends that he join him for a few days on an archaeological dig site in the desert. Knowing that Lang’s lover, attractive fellow student Nurit, is at the site, David agrees. The following day, the men drive into the desert while in the Old City, a teenaged Palestinian is shot to death in a barbershop, during another attack. Pressing his investigation, Samuels orders Raschid’s house searched and in his reports classifies David as the most important link to Raschid after discovering that the two men attended Yale University together. In the desert, Nurit asks David why he met with Raschid and he confesses that, distressed by the increase in violence since the war, he intends to return to America and was bidding farewell to his friend. After analyzing several photos taken from Raschid’s apartment, Samuels discovers that a group wedding photo includes the man killed at the café and the teenager at the barbershop. At the campsite, Nurit, who is affiliated with the Israeli activists, introduces David to another Israeli activist student, Barak, while an army officer visits Lang to inform him that he does not have enough men to protect the site adequately. Moments later, a sniper fires upon the students and Barak is superficially wounded. David drags Nurit to hide beside one of the cars and the students remain there in the hot sun most of the afternoon until the army returns with the body of the dead Arab sniper. Later, tending to a sunburned Nurit, Lang cautions her not to become involved with David, who he suspects she will try to use politically. Soon after, Barak takes David aside to question him about Raschid. Admitting to hoping to foster a peace dialogue with young, like-minded Palestinians, Barak requests that David try to arrange a meeting with Raschid. Although David is initially suspicious, he agrees and returns to Jerusalem alone. In the Old City, David makes inquiries and is directed to the funeral procession of the murdered teenager. At the burial, David notes a man standing apart. Samuels and his partner are also there, and after the funeral, Samuels offers David a ride into the city and warns him that his life could be in danger. Later that afternoon, David tracks down the man he saw at the burial, Altouli, to a coin shop and presents him with a rare coin given to him by Raschid to use as a signal if David ever needed him. At security headquarters, Samuels receives photo-copied photos of David at Yale and is finally able to identify Raschid by comparing them with the wedding photo. That night, Samuels and his partner discover Altouli shot to death, and inform David. Stunned, David returns to the university where the next day, Lang and the others arrive. Outraged by David’s continued gullibility, Lang slams the rare coin down in front of him and declares David responsible for Altouli’s murder. Shocked by the implication of Lang’s complex personal connections of which he had no idea, David is speechless when Lang then bans him from the university. Samuels visits Lang later and the professor pleads with him to deport David for his own safety, but when the security agent hesitates, Lang accuses him of using David as bait to get to his Palestinian associates. Samuels suggests that it is the student political group using David and warns that they are in danger. More determined than ever to contribute to a worthy cause, David takes Barak to meet Palestinian Yussof, who promises to try and contact Raschid. Frustrated by Samuels, Lang sees Mayer who refuses to interfere, pointing out that Raschid could assume a leadership position in the Palestinian Organization and it would be beneficial for the Israelis to build relationships with him. Angered at Lang for what she believes is his interference and betrayal, Nurit moves out of his apartment and goes to stay with David, knowing he has always been attracted her. The couple spends the day together and later has sex. Meanwhile, the police discover a possible location where Raschid might be hiding, but he and a cohort manage to flee on foot over several blocks. Splitting up, Raschid rushes to David’s apartment while his cohort races to a car he believes has been sent for him only to be brutally shot down by members of the opposing gang inside. Amazed to return to his apartment and find Raschid, David informs him of Barak’s request and his friend agrees to consider a meeting. The next day, David receives information that Raschid and others will meet Barak’s group that night at the border. Suspecting from a comment made by Barak in class that the meeting is on, Lang meets Nurit to beg her not to attend. When she refuses, Lang reveals that he will tell Samuels all he knows unless he hears from Barak by that evening. Hoping to stop Lang’s intervention, Barak telephones the professor, vowing not to go to the meeting, but then proceeds with preparations. Just before departing for the meeting, Nurit tells David he cannot accompany them as it is their own affair but promises to see him the next day. Later, Samuels informs Lang that the students have departed for the desert and the police pick up David and take him to Lang who demands to know the meeting location. David informs him the students are already at their destination and that it is too late. Meanwhile at the border, Barak, Nurit and others make tentative contact with Raschid and share coffee. The next morning the army contacts Samuels to inform him that the entire group of Palestinians and Israelis were gunned down by a rival Palestinian gang.