Settler violence in West Bank exposed in award-winning film
3 Min Read
No Other Land brings attention on the continued oppression of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, which has been under threat since 1981 when it was designated as a military training ground.
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Palestinian Basel Adra, right, and Israeli Yuval Abraham receive the documentary award for "No Other Land" at the International Film Festival in Berlin on February 24, 2024. (AP)
A new film, No Other Land, exposes settler violence in the West Bank and sheds light on the grim reality facing Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, the cluster of beleaguered Palestinian hamlets in south al-Khalil.
One of the film's directors Basel Adra could not return from the US via Ben Gurion airport like the other two Israeli directors for the film.
Adra had to go through Jordan and cross the West Bank border. For Palestinians like Adra, mobility inside the occupied areas is restricted and precarious.
He recalled how Israeli occupation forces (IOF) were frequently seizing Palestinians' phones to verify their contacts and reported that roads could be blocked at any time. "People who need to get to work can spend three to four hours at a checkpoint," Adra said, showcasing the difficulty of living as a Palestinian amid constant dehumanization.
No Other Land brings attention to the continued oppression of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, which has been under threat since 1981 when it was designated as a military training ground.
Over the years, bulldozers, military, and aggressive settlers have repeatedly destroyed the area, causing many inhabitants to escape, while others have found sanctuary in ancient caverns. The documentary, directed by Basel Adra, who grew up in the neighborhood, provides a personal viewpoint on the forced evacuation.
It shows dramatic situations, such as a settler shooting Adra's cousin Zakriha, and settlers' escalating aggression as the war on Gaza progresses. The documentary also illustrates the rising impunity with which Israelis attack Palestinian villages.
No Other Land, which won two best documentary awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, delves into the personal friendship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, as well as the striking contrast between their lives.
Israeli Abraham and Palestinian Adra have serious talks throughout the film that illustrate their opposing experiences.
While Abraham has the option of witnessing Palestinian oppression when it suits him, Adra does so regularly as he lives under Israeli military rule. Abraham's outspokenness against the occupation has led to him receiving death threats from other Israelis.
Adra is skeptical of Western leadership, but he sees some promise in American and European popular opinion. "The people in the street in the UK, and the US and France should know what their governments are supporting."
The awareness of the harsh reality of the West Bank and the struggle of Palestinians is the goal of No Other Land, which has grown in popularity in Europe but has yet to find a distributor in the United States.
