It didn’t surprise me that “No Other Land” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Sadly for those of us who want to see peace between Israel and its Palestinian-Arab neighbors, it’s not propaganda. It truthfully depicts the shameful and brazen efforts of the Israeli government, allied with violent settlers, to destroy a closely-knit complex of 20 small Palestinian villages in the West Bank called Masafer Yatta.
Yet, to the credit of its team of four filmmakers, two Israeli Jews and two West Bank Palestinians, it is not presented in a hateful way. Its narrative focus is upon the evolving partnership and friendship of two of the filmmakers — one a villager (Basil Adra) and his family, and the other an Arabic-speaking Israeli journalist (Yuval Abraham), who is readily accepted for who he is, a “Yahud” (Jew) who has come in solidarity.
By his appearance, stereotypically speaking, Abraham could pass as Palestinian. A little girl featured among the Palestinian villagers is very blond — just sayin’.
Adra is a charismatic leader of peaceful protests, while Abraham attempts to reason in Hebrew with Israeli officials and soldiers on the scene. The Israelis are filmed bulldozing homes and a schoolhouse, and destroying water resources. At least some of the villagers have moved their belongings into nearby caves as makeshift dwellings.
One injured demonstrator is totally paralyzed and lacks access to proper treatment; his grieving mother prays for his merciful death — and he does die, after an extended agony. Another villager is actually seen on camera being shot by one of the masked settlers who periodically harass and assault them.
In his Academy Award acceptance remarks, Basel Adra revealed that he has recently become a father and hopes that his daughter will grow up without “always fearing settlers, violence, home demolitions and forcible displacements.” Then he implores “the world to take serious actions to stop injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.”
What follows is Yuval Abraham’s brief speech:
We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger. We see each other.
The atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end. The Israeli hostages, brutally taken in the crime of October 7, which must be freed.
When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law. Basel is under military laws that destroy his life and he cannot control.
There is a different path, a political solution, without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.
And I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. And, you know, I … why?
Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free and safe?
There is another way. It’s not too late for life, for the living. There is no other way.
The film’s closing credits note that it was completed just days prior to the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. This horrendous event may partially explain why it hasn’t gotten a distributor in the United States. It is screened at a few independent venues featuring “artsy” films, and one has to wonder if it will obtain a wider distribution as a result of its Oscar win.
A further sad reality is that some voices in the Jewish community have denounced the filmmakers, the film and the Academy for promoting “antisemitism” or “terrorism.” I had my own misgivings before seeing it. It is possible that some young people, traumatized and expelled from their homes in Musafer Yatta, will take the path of violence one day. That would be tragic, but it would not be this film that causes it.
Postscript
In a long ponderous statement, what might be considered “BDS Central” — PACBI, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel — has issued an edict against No Other Land for violating its “anti-normalization guidelines.” These generally prohibit cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians unless the former totally conform to the preconceptions and dictates of the latter regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. PACBI notes as an addendum to their pronouncement that the filmmakers have reacted to PACBI’s judgment “to name Israel as the perpetrator, and to mention Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” No word so far if this renders the film kosher.