# **Detailed SUMMARY of "Built on Divisions" by Muna Khan, Published in Dawn (Feb 2, 2025)** The article by Muna Khan highlights the heart-wrenching reality of Palestinian villagers in Masafer Yatta, an area in the occupied West Bank, who face forced evictions and demolitions by Israeli forces. The writer strongly recommends watching the documentary *No Other Land*, which provides an unfiltered view of the suffering of Palestinians through the eyes of activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham. The film captures the brutal destruction of homes, schools, and even small structures like chicken coops by Israeli forces, leading to unimaginable hardships for the residents. The documentary includes deeply distressing scenes, such as a father comforting his daughters as their home is demolished, a mother pleading with soldiers to spare their toilet, and a young man, Harun, being shot and left paralyzed, later forced to live in a cave with no access to medical treatment. The film underscores the deep divisions in the region, symbolized by different license plate colors for Israelis and Palestinians, reflecting a system of control and restriction. Despite immense suffering, many Palestinians choose to stay on their land rather than give up their homes. The documentary also sheds light on the struggles of Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who faces backlash from his own people for supporting Palestinians. Through historical footage, including an incident where former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit temporarily halted demolitions, the article emphasizes how power dynamics influence the fate of Palestinians. The writer hopes that *No Other Land*, nominated for an Oscar, will gain widespread recognition and bring global attention to the Palestinian struggle. --- # **Easy/Short SUMMARY for an 8th-Grader** The article talks about a documentary called *No Other Land*, which shows how Palestinian people are losing their homes because Israeli soldiers and settlers force them out. The story focuses on a Palestinian activist named Basel Adra and an Israeli journalist, Yuval Abraham, who tries to help but gets criticized by his own people. The documentary captures sad and painful moments, like families watching their houses being destroyed, a young man getting shot and becoming paralyzed, and children trying to save a pigeon from the rubble. The Israeli government claims the land is for military training, but Palestinians have lived there for generations. Some families choose to stay, even though life is very hard. The writer hopes the film wins an Oscar so more people can see what is happening and understand the struggles of Palestinian families. --- # **SOLUTIONS to the Problem** ## **1. International Pressure and Diplomacy** Global organizations and powerful nations must push Israel to stop forced evictions and respect Palestinian rights. The United Nations, European Union, and other global bodies should play a more active role in ensuring justice. ## **2. Legal Action in International Courts** Palestinians can seek justice through the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Israel accountable for forced evictions and human rights violations. ## **3. Stronger Media Coverage and Awareness** More documentaries like *No Other Land* should be made and widely shared to make people worldwide aware of the situation. International media should highlight these injustices regularly. ## **4. Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement** Supporting the BDS movement can put economic and political pressure on Israel, forcing it to change its policies regarding Palestinian land rights. ## **5. Humanitarian Assistance and Medical Aid** Global charities and NGOs must provide medical aid and financial support to affected Palestinian families, especially those living in caves without proper healthcare. ## **6. Engaging Israeli Citizens for Change** More Israelis like Yuval Abraham should speak up against occupation policies. Encouraging dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis who seek peace could create pressure within Israel for a fairer policy. ## **7. Protecting Palestinian Heritage and Land Rights** International organizations should document Palestinian history, protect their lands legally, and prevent further encroachments through historical claims and legal measures. ## **8. Strengthening Palestinian Governance** A stronger, more unified Palestinian leadership could negotiate more effectively and seek international support to protect their people's rights. ## **9. Ceasefire and Peace Negotiations** Efforts should be made to bring both sides to the negotiating table to end hostilities, prevent further destruction, and ensure peace. ## **10. International Monitoring and Peacekeeping** The deployment of neutral peacekeeping forces in sensitive areas like Masafer Yatta could help protect civilians from unjust actions and prevent further demolitions. --- # **IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article** - *No Other Land* is a documentary that highlights the forced evictions of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta. - The documentary follows Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham. - In 2019, around **2,500 Palestinians** were threatened with forced expulsion from Masafer Yatta. - Israel claims the area is a military training zone, while Palestinians deny this. - Families are forced to live in caves after their homes are demolished. - The documentary has been **nominated for an Oscar**. - Former British Prime Minister **Tony Blair visited Masafer Yatta in 2009**. --- # **MCQs from the Article** ### 1. What is the main subject of the documentary *No Other Land*? A. Climate change B. Palestinian resistance against Israeli forced evictions C. The history of the West Bank D. The Israeli military’s training exercises **Answer: B** ### 2. Who are the two main individuals featured in the documentary? A. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas B. Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham C. Tony Blair and Harun D. Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres **Answer: B** ### 3. In which year were 2,500 Palestinians threatened with expulsion from Masafer Yatta? A. 2015 B. 2017 C. 2019 D. 2021 **Answer: C** ### 4. What does the article suggest as a major symbol of division between Israelis and Palestinians? A. Different colored license plates B. Military uniforms C. School textbooks D. Religious differences **Answer: A** ### 5. What happened to the young Palestinian man, Harun, in the documentary? A. He was imprisoned B. He was shot and became paralyzed C. He escaped to another country D. He became an activist **Answer: B** ### 6. Which former British leader visited Masafer Yatta in 2009? A. David Cameron B. Tony Blair C. Boris Johnson D. Gordon Brown **Answer: B** ### 7. What does the article hope will happen to *No Other Land*? A. It will be banned B. It will be shown only in Palestine C. It will win an Oscar and reach a wider audience D. It will be criticized for being biased **Answer: C** --- # **VOCABULARY** 1. **Infuriate** (غصہ دلانا) – To make someone extremely angry. 2. **Desensitising** (بےحس بنانا) – Making someone less sensitive to something, especially violence. 3. **Evict** (نکال دینا) – To force someone to leave their home. 4. **Plead** (التجا کرنا) – To beg for something. 5. **Brutal** (بےرحمانہ) – Extremely harsh or cruel. 6. **Archival** (محفوظ شدہ) – Related to old records or historical material. 7. **Suppression** (دباؤ) – The act of stopping or controlling something forcefully. 8. **Neigh** (ہنہنانا) – The sound a horse makes. 9. **Raze** (تباہ کرنا) – To completely destroy a building or structure. 10. **Occupation** (قبضہ) – The control of a place by military forces. 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. Please be reminded not to remove the attribution label affixed to this article. It is crucial to acknowledge the source and the effort invested in creating this summary. We discourage any unauthorized distribution without proper credit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 🔍 ⚡ *Explore More Summaries, Solutions, and Vocabulary Meanings!* 💡 Join our WhatsApp Channel for timely and comprehensive summaries of the latest articles, along with well-crafted solutions and helpful vocabulary meanings. Click the link below to join now: 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y dawn.com Built on divisions Muna Khan 5–6 minutes I WANT you to watch a documentary that will infuriate, pierce your heart, make you weep and cause sleepless nights — as it did for me. Because it’s not enough to imagine what Palestinians endure every day as we catch snippets of images on TV or social media feeds, desensitising us as constant exposure to violence can do. We must watch No Other Lands to understand what it is like to live in fear of Israelis — soldiers and settlers — coming to evict you from your home. And then watch what happens when they tear your home down in front of your eyes, unaffected by your screams and pleas. And then you are forced to live in a cave, carrying on as normal as possible because the other choice is to leave. No Other Land tells the story of Palestinian villagers resisting Israel’s cruel efforts to forcibly evict them from their lands in Masafer Yatta. It is a joint production of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, filmed over five years, right up till the Hamas attack on Israel. It focuses on Palestinian activist and filmmaker Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who is against the occupation. Their bond is as central to the film as Israel’s brutal actions against the residents resisting their assault. You will not forget the father trying to calm his young daughters as they watch their home razed to the ground. Or as the mother shouts at the soldiers, begging them not to raze the toilet at least. Moments later, Israeli soldiers open fire and a young man, Harun is shot. He is paralysed from the shoulders down. It is heartbreaking to watch his mother grieve over his just-shot body. You will then see how Harun returns to live in a cave with his family, being shifted from hospital bed to a mattress on the floor by family members using a blanket as a ‘stretcher’ to move him. He cannot leave to get medical treatment. In one scene, his mother sits next to him, when they hear some sounds, perhaps footsteps, fearing another Israeli raid; he asks “who is coming?” She replies “nobody is coming.” What is it like to watch one’s home being razed to the ground? In 2019, around 2,500 Palestinians faced forced expulsion from Masafer Yatta, in the south of the West Bank in the occupied territories. Israel claims the villagers have built illegally on military training land. Palestinians deny this. It doesn’t matter what they say; we watch as Israel comes to raze houses, schools, even a chicken coop. “I don’t think we can have security if Palestinians don’t have freedom,” Abraham tells Democracy Now. We also watch the hate Abraham receives from Israelis for advocating for Palestinians. After a painful demolition, a Palestinian man tells Abraham he may not be accepted here anymore. In one touching scene between the two friends, late at night, Adra — who cannot leave the West Bank — tells Abraham — who can move freely — they should leave the place together. Where will we go, asks Abraham. The Maldives replies Adra, as a donkey neighs in the background. Abraham replies “the donkey is laughing at your plan.” Adra gets his activism from his parents, and we see family home videos documenting the father’s resistance. They would rebuild after homes were destroyed. They built a school in secret, at night away from authorities’ eyes. That school was also visited by former British prime minister Tony Blair in 2009. In archival footage from that visit, Blair passes Adra’s home where his father stands. In a voice-over, Adra says Israel did not order any demolition of a school or house on the street Blair walked on. This is a powerful testament to … well … power. One day the soldiers come to des­troy a chicken coop. Young children try to rescue a small pig-eon buried under the rubble as someone yells “Basel … come here, keep filming, they are here”, and the camera rushes across to where the soldiers are climbing a mountain. “I’m filming you,” Adra shouts. “You are just like criminals expelling us.” A soldier warns against coming closer or he’ll arrest him. On what grounds screams Adra as they grab him, a scuffle ensues before the camera falls to the ground and you hear his screams but he manages to escape. They return the next day to arrest his father. It is distressing to say the least. It is a world, as Adra says, built on division. Yellow licence plates for Israeli cars who can travel anywhere and green licence plates for Palestinian cars that can’t leave the West Bank. Israel controls both. Every week a family must decide whether to endure these hardships or leave their land, ie, lose their land. It is more challenging to stay on their lands yet many do so. It is an urgent film and I hope it receives the Oscar it is nominated for so it gets wider reach. The writer is a journalism instructor. X: @LedeingLady Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2025