The Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement has denounced the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” for allegedly normalizing Israeli occupation. The film’s supporters have been shocked by the BDS’ statement, with some West Bank residents criticizing the organization’s stance.
According to BDS, a project is considered normalized if it fails to publicly recognize Palestinian inalienable rights and co-resists the Israeli regime of occupation. However, the movement acknowledges that “normalization” can be complex and nuanced, and not always binary.
Professor Emily Schneider from Northern Arizona University explained that resisting normalization involves questioning power imbalances and rejecting systems that foster inequality. The BDS statement is aimed at holding Israelis involved in the film accountable for supporting Palestinian liberation.
Despite controversy surrounding the anti-normalization movement’s effectiveness, Professor Ned Lazarus notes that it has helped shift Western public opinion about Israel. Calls to restrict Israeli arms exports have become widespread in the US and Europe.
The BDS movement has not been successful in terms of “hard power” but has influenced Western public perception of Israel. The organization aims to promote peacebuilding initiatives with Palestinian involvement, rather than boycotting films like “No Other Land.”
Source: https://forward.com/culture/704476/no-other-land-bds-boycott-normalization-pacbi