What the Oscar win tells us about peace work

The acceptance speeches of the "No Other Land" directors give glimpses of hope, vision, resistance, and also fault lines of the peace work.

The news that the Palestinian-Israeli collaboration “No Other Land” won an Oscar is exciting. The film, which tells the harrowing story of Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank village of Masafer Yatta, sheds light on some of Israel’s appalling treatment of Palestinians, even though the story of Masafer Yatta is only the tip of the iceberg, as dozens of Palestinian villages have been erased over the years. Indeed, the deeper question is where these actions fit into larger Israeli political strategies. In his acceptance speech, Palestinian co-director and Masafer Yatta native Basel Adra decried “ethnic cleansing” and referred to “decades” of oppressive strategies by Israel. This description is already raising the ire of Israel advocates, and has previously been called “antisemitic”. But it is not antisemitism. It is much-needed truth-telling, even if that’s hard for some people to hear.

While the Palestinian co-director called on the world to end Israel’s brutal treatment of Palestinians exemplified in Masafer Yatta, the Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham called not only for an end to the war but also for a return of the Israeli hostages from Gaza. I am very grateful that he did that — and also that he was able to put both issues in the same sentence. That reflects how I feel, too. That I want Israel to stop the war and the displacement of Palestinians, and I ALSO want the immediate return of the hostages.

Interestingly, Ynet reported on the mention of the hostages, but with a slight. “Abraham mentioned the hostages only after mentioning ending the war in Gaza.” As if it’s a kind of contest.

Ynet’s nitpicky analysis reflects a popular Jewish trope that “the world” doesn’t care about the hostages — which as I’ve written before, is patently untrue. Hostages displays are located all over the world, millions of people and foundations support hostage families, all the major news outlets cover the issue with compassion and regularly interview hostage families, the White House and other government officials regularly hold conversations and meetings with hostage families, hostages families speak all over the world, including at the United Nations and Democratic National Convention, and even A-list celebrities are in on it, and wear hostage paraphernalia at major events, even at the Oscars.

The incessant need to prove Jewish victimhood and the whole “the world hates Jews” trope is part of a strategy to justify anything Israel does to Palestinians. Like, Israel should get to do whatever it wants and ignore international law and international pressure and basic human rights norms because, you know, the world hates us anyway so we are excused. I’m very over all that chatter. I prefer facts. And the fact is that the hostages were just advocated for on the Oscar stage by an Israeli filmmaker making his acceptance speech. And also, criticism of Israel is warranted. Yes, it is.

Abraham also talked about the power of Palestinian-Israeli collaboration, and said, “We see each other.”

We see each other. That is the whole point, I think. Peace begins when we start to see each other — not as enemies or as threats or people to be feared and/or destroyed, but rather as human beings who have the same basic needs, desires, hopes and dreams as we do. We all want to live a normal life. We all want safety and freedom. Being able to recognize our shared humanity rests at the core of the work towards building a different future. I am grateful that this was articulated.

I am also deeply grateful that we have here a successful example of Israeli-Palestinian collaboration. They are able to see each other, and that gives me hope.

But hang on a second. Did they really see each other?

Now it’s my turn to be a bit nitpicky.

Certainly the Israeli saw the Palestinian and made an entire film about his life experience. But is it true that the Palestinian also saw the Israeli, as he is? Or only as an advocate for Palestinians?

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I ask this question because I have recently had some hard experiences in my own work in Palestinian-Israeli collaborations. And even though I generally do not want to harp on these challenges, I’m starting to think that maybe I should. At least for a moment. A few weeks ago I made a video in which I reflected on nearly a year of joint content creation that has sometimes left me — and other people — emotionally bruised. This is certainly par for the course in our terribly violent context. We are emotionally bruised all the time. But I have higher hopes for my peace-group settings, and sometimes the disappointments can take their tolls. My ambivalence about discussing the challenges of this work is reflected, for example, in the fact that I made this video but didn’t actually share it (until now). Like, I know it’s hard work, and I know there are pitfalls, but I don’t want to focus on them. Usually. But right now, for a brief little moment here on this substack, I would like to. I need to unpack this a little.