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‘No Other Land’ was co-directed by Palestinian Basel Adra and Israeli Yuval Abraham. Five years of recording Israeli aggression and occupation in a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank form the foundation of a multi-award-winning documentary that is now looking to the Oscars. Its creators hope international recognition can help push for change in Palestine.

Palestinian Basel Adra and Israeli Yuval Abraham are the directors of No Other Land, a story that chronicles the impunity of Israeli military crimes against Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta, located south of Hebron. The film depicts bulldozers demolishing schools and homes, settlers cutting water pipelines, and soldiers threatening and shooting at those defending their land.

This community began documenting Israeli aggression more than twenty years ago, back when Adra was just a child. As he took on the role behind the camera, the documentation became more consistent, with a clearer intent to expose the reality in real-time. “Back then, I had a lot of faith in the work we were doing—documenting and publishing—and I believed that once it went viral, things would change. That people would act, that governments wouldn’t stay silent,” Adra recalls.

However, over time, global inaction has eroded Adra’s hope and enthusiasm. He is now convinced that “the West does not want the genocide in Gaza or the occupation in the West Bank to end.” “Social media is full of videos of Israeli soldiers filming themselves committing crimes. No one is doing anything, no one pays the price for these crimes, there are no consequences,” he states.

“I’ll be honest: it’s very hard to find hope. We’re living through very dark times,” the Palestinian summarizes, though he remains convinced that “there are many things that could be done to stop this, to force a ceasefire, and to end the occupation.”

The lack of international response and the resulting despair have not stopped them from documenting and exposing the situation. “It’s very hard to simply decide to stop,” Adra says, aware of the importance of standing by his community and recognizing that it might be the only contribution people like him, who lack “real power,” can make to try to change things. “If change happens, it won’t be because of a film or a single person. It will come from a collective effort,” Abraham admits. “That’s why we keep fighting—because we believe that one day we will see change. And I hope I live to see it,” he adds.

However, both directors acknowledge that real change requires a shift in Western foreign policy. “Unfortunately, the people who have power are not willing to use it to stop what is happening,” Adra laments. “If there isn’t a significant shift in Europe’s and the United States’ foreign policy, there won’t be any internal change in Israel,” Abraham concludes.

“There’s no interest in finding a solution,” the Palestinian continues, arguing that “there are steps that could be taken, such as recognizing the Palestinian state.” Spain and other European countries recently made this recognition—a small but potentially meaningful step if followed by others. Abraham suggests additional measures, such as sanctioning settlements, something that would create real pressure. “If [Israelis] don’t pay a price for continuing the occupation, the likelihood of change is low,” he asserts.

No Other Land, recently awarded Best Documentary at the European Film Awards and a winner at the 74th Berlinale, is a film that does not shy away from activism, addressing a reality it describes as “so unjust and asymmetrical.” “The main reason for making this film was to shed light on this community, and I think the recognition the film is receiving is a way to give the community the platform it truly deserves,” Abraham notes.

The documentary is among the frontrunners for an Oscar nomination and is a strong contender for the coveted award. Such recognition would allow the directors to achieve another goal: reaching the widest possible audience and exerting international pressure. “I hope that by watching No Other Land, there will be some kind of push, some kind of energy in the world that eventually leads to change and international pressure,” expresses the Israeli director.

Anonymous Snitching Snubs Hopes Of Citizenship

The two men and one woman, who had already fulfilled Denmark's exhaustive naturalization requirements, were subjected to this grilling following anonymous complaints about their Facebook activity. The complaints triggered a freeze on their applications, despite the applicants meeting a laundry list of requirements that includes everything from employment, a clean criminal record and having no outstanding public debts to passing a language exam and a trivia quiz, signing a declaration of loyalty and physically shaking the hand of the local mayor or similar official (skin contact explicitly required).

Their hopes of citizenship now rest on a vote by the naturalization committee, which has the power to reject or approve their applications. One applicant is reported to have used a picture of Saddam Hussein as his profile picture. Another posted a homophobic comment urging parliament to "do something about your homosexuality instead" in response to parliament passing an islamophobic "Burqa ban". While such expressions are ostensibly protected under Denmark’s constitution, they have now become grounds for informal inquisitions into applicants' "democratic mindset".

The interviews happened behind closed doors but some questions from anonymous committee members have been reported. Questions included:

• Should homosexuals be allowed to hold hands and kiss in public?
• What would you say if your child dated someone who wasn’t Muslim?
• Which value do you think is the most important in a democracy?

Peder Hvelplund, member of the committee for the pro-democracy "Red-Green" opposition party did not ask any questions. Instead he spent his talking time apologizing to applicants that they had to be "dragged through such an undignified process".

The committee's vice-chair, Helene Brydensholt from the green "Alternative" party had resigned in protest and was not present.

Being targeted as props for right-wing culture war theatrics is likely to have devastating consequences for the applicants' prospects of gaining citizenship and having their legal and political rights safeguarded. All three were visibly nervous and emotional before appearing before the committee. The woman applicant left the hearing in visible distress, rushing past reporters in tears.

Pro-democracy Opposition: "Uncomfortable, Awkward and Intimidating"

The racist majority of the committee had a positive assessment of the interrogations with chairman of the committee, Islamophobic firebrand Mikkel Bjørn from the fascist Danish People's Party called the interviews "a really good conversation and a really good dialogue". The pro-democratic opposition had a different view of the interviews with Hvelplund describing them as "the most uncomfortable, awkward and intimidating experience" in his time in politics.

The interrogations are a long-time wet dream of the racist right and are the pet project of Mikkel Bjørn whose racist views are well-documented. Bjørn has stated an explicit and borderline genocidal desire to reduce the Muslim population of Denmark, remove the legal status of all Muslim faith communities and "make islamic life in Denmark close to impossible".

The efforts of Bjørn and the "Danish People's Party" has been seconded by the ruling "Social Democrats" whose already reactionary politics has taken a significant authoritarian turn over recent years. Social Democrat committee member Anders Kronborg has described the intimidating interviews as "a grand gesture" towards applicants who are "invited to the stronghold of democracy" to tell "why they have these views and find them reconcilable with having a Danish passport".

Expect The Danish Inquisition: Libertarians Demands "Systematic Screenings" Of All Applicants

The interviews are not the only measure taken by Denmark's Islamophobic political elite to police the speech of the kingdom's Muslim minority. The far-right libertarian "Liberal Alliance" party has demanded that the regime forms an expert group to develop even more intrusive mechanisms to "systematically screen" the "democratic mindset" of all who apply for citizenship.

The interviews happens as the latest development in over three decades of rightward shift in Danish politics that has made islamophobic and racist opinions the new "political correctness" among the media and ruling elite. Especially the "Social Democrats", who once had roots in the labour movement, have moved so far right as to be virtually indistinguishable from the fascist Danish People's Party.

A Process Mired In Chaos

The interviews are happening in a legal grey zone under chaotic and arbitrary procedures. Leading up to today's interrogations legal scholars and civil servants had voiced concerns about the legality of the interrogations under national and international human rights law. This did not move the committee's majority who decided to push forward with the interviews.

In Denmark's peculiar naturalization process that dates back to the 1800's citizenship is granted through a legislative process rather than an administrative one. In practice this leaves applicants at the mercy of political whim, stripped of many of the legal protections against arbitrary, biased and lazy decisions that normally apply in administrative law. The sheer amount of applicants and paperwork means that the MP's on the committee often vote on applications they have never read and their decisions are reported to depend on the individual moods of MP's on the day of the vote rather than on serious casework.

Today was no different and up to the last moments the procedural rules of the interrogations were unclear. In the letter summoning them to appear before the committee applicants had been told to come alone. However, one applicant had asked in advance whether they could bring a council. After some debate and confusion the request was granted. When appearing the council asked whether they were allowed to record the proceedings. This caused some debate in the committee before proceedings could go ahead. It is unknown whether the council was allowed to record the interrogation or not.

The three applicants will know whether they've passed through the needle's eye on December 19th when the naturalization bill is introduced to parliament. The Danish People's Party has already announced that they will vote against the naturalization of two of the applicants.

Denying citizenship on arbitrary grounds contravenes international human rights law. However, courts lack the authority to grant citizenship to those unfairly denied, leaving compensation as the only recourse for victims of this deeply flawed process.

This impasse lasted for more than three hours, reflecting not only the tension between institutions but also the complexity of the current political context.

On Wednesday, the South Korean police were engaged in a prolonged confrontation with agents of the Presidential Security Service while attempting to carry out a raid on the president’s office. This action is part of a broader investigation into Yoon’s recent declaration of martial law, which was revoked by the National Assembly within hours of its implementation.

According to reports from the Yonhap news agency, police officers attempted to access the presidential office at 11:50 local time but encountered strong resistance from security personnel, who argued that access should be prevented for security reasons. This impasse lasted for more than three hours, reflecting not only the tension between institutions but also the complexity of the current political context.

The investigation against Yoon Suk-yeol includes serious allegations, including insurrection, which adds a critical dimension to the situation. The declaration of martial law, although brief, has generated intense debate about the use of executive power and civil liberties in the country. Early in the morning, police conducted raids on several agencies, including the National Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Police.

This suggests that authorities are looking to establish a wider network of accountability and transparency around the president’s decisions. This episode highlights the inherent tensions in the South Korean political system, where institutions must balance national security with accountability.