Coda: the persecution documented in “No Other Land” doesn’t let up

Hamdan Ballal holding up his Oscar against the desert background of Masafer Yatta
“No Other Land” director Hamdan Ballal.  Photo by Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images

The Jewish journal The Forward has a follow-up story on co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land Hamdan Ballal’s abduction. As the report points out, the only exceptional detail is that the abductee in question has an Academy Award. Otherwise, this is not unusual.

That said, I want to share this article because it highlights the daily reality that Palestinians live with in the West Bank, particularly in areas like Masafer Yatta. It also highlights the work of Israeli volunteers who attempt to act as buffers to the violence brought by the settlers, the Israeli Defense Force, and the police.

The volunteers come from all around the world to work with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. The risk is great since, as in the night when Ballal was arrested, Jewish settlers attacked Jewish volunteers.

As I read this article, I couldn’t shake, and still cannot dismiss the sense of madness that drives people to acts of violence and leaders to capitalize on that violence.

It’s telling that for all the acclaim the film has gotten, the state’s response has been one of derision and censure. Miki Zohar, Israel’s cultural minister lambasted the film, framing it as painting Israel in a negative light.

“Zohar has championed reform to push government money toward commercially oriented movies rather than artistic films and documentaries that shed light on Israel’s periphery and minorities...”

And yet, this only serves to show how fearful oppressors are of art, of truth. The schoolyard bully lives in a world of brutish emotions where only his happiness and his desires matter. It’s one thing to justify returning force with force after having been attacked (though, you might need honesty to ascertain if the attack wasn’t provoked), it’s quite another to beat up, kill, or disappear shepherds, farmers, and filmmakers who just want to live in peace.

Postscript: for those who have seen the film, The Forward had interviewed Harun Abu Aram, whose being shot (over a generator) was documented and forms a prominent part of No Other Land.


Sources

Bergman, Nora. “A Palestinian Oscar-winner’s arrest shocked the world. For these Jewish activists, it was terrifyingly normal”. The Forward. https://forward.com/opinion/708244/hamdan-ballal-west-bank-settler-violence/. March 28, 2025.

“Culture minister decries Oscar win for Palestinian-Israeli documentary on Israeli demolitions in Palestinian village”. The Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/culture-minister-decries-oscar-win-for-palestinian-israeli-documentary-on-israeli-demolitions-in-palestinian-village/. March 3, 2025.

Galbraith, Alex. “Even the Oscar can't protect you": "No Other Land" director reportedly attacked by Israeli settlers”. Salon. https://www.salon.com/2025/03/24/even-the-oscar-cant-protect-you-no-other-land-director-reportedly-attacked-by-israeli-settlers/. March 24, 2025.

Witus, Zak. “A Palestinian was shot and paralyzed over a generator. Now Israel threatens to take his home”. The Forward. https://forward.com/opinion/503471/a-palestinian-was-shot-and-paralyzed-over-a-generator-now-israel-threatens-to-take-his-home/. May 4, 2022.




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