For this reason, the Academy’s world-famous award, the Oscar, is generally considered to be one of the highest decorations in the world of arts, and its glamorous award ceremony is followed by many, and the decisions of its jury anxiously awaited.

It appears, however, that the Academy has decided to exclude some of its admirers from the possibility of having one of their own artists contending for this prize, for the mere reason that it does not recognize their national identity, namely the Palestinians.

Recently, Palestinian filmmaker and actor Elia Suleiman’s film ‘Divine Intervention’ was denied entry in the race for Oscar nominations in the category of “Best Foreign Film”, on the grounds that “Palestine is not a nation”. In sharp contrast, the same movie won the Jury Award at the famous film festival of Cannes, in France, only weeks ago.

If Elia Suleiman wanted to enter his movie, what should he call himself, if not a Palestinian?

With the exception of a handful of states, the whole world recognizes Palestine as a nation, as is exemplified by the overwhelming vote in the UN General Assembly of July 7, 1998, when Palestine’s status in the UN was elevated to that of non-voting member, with a majority of 124-4. Therefore, even if official statehood has not yet been achieved, the world community has clearly voiced its recognition of the fact that Palestine is at the least a nation, if not yet a state, due to the complications caused by the continuing occupation of the Palestinian homeland.

Therefore, to exclude Elia Suleiman’s movie on the grounds that Palestine is not a nation, is a clear political statement, which serves to illustrate the Academy’s rigid anti-Palestinian position. It is impossible for the Academy to hide behind the “technical” excuse of saying that only official states are allowed entry for nomination, especially in times when the whole world has been waiting for the implementation of a vast number of UN resolutions, treaties and accords all pointing in the direction of the establishment of a Palestinian state.

By denying the existence of Palestine as a nation, the Academy implicitly states that there is no reason to ever establish this Palestinian state, which, in the spectrum of existing opinions concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is a stance that is otherwise adopted only by Zionist right-wing extremists. Even the current Bush administration has clearly stated that it envisages a Palestinian state as an end goal in the resolution of the conflict.

The Academy is clearly underestimating the extent to which such discriminatory action damages its image on a global level. In sharp contrast, the organizers of the Cannes film festival will have gained credit among a significant part of the world population, even enhanced by the Academy’s provocative move of excluding a winning film from nomination.

Has the Academy ever before made such a clear and blunt political statement, abusing the responsibility it bears towards the world community, which is connected to the unique position it occupies in the film industry on an international level?

Even if this tragic display of primitive tribalism should turn out to be their only error of judgment, one thing becomes as clear as glass: the Academy Foundation is incapable of upholding the internationally accepted standards of decency and justice, and does not deserve to be revered. In fact, an artist being awarded an Oscar may have to wonder, what the real value of this decoration is. After all, the Academy may be applying the same level of wisdom in its distinctions between art and kitsch, as it applies to distinguishing right from wrong.

It obviously appears, that Oscar, our dear and beloved friend, just doesn’t like Palestinians.

The author is a Palestinian-Dutch surgeon. He is also a regular columnist and an editor for the PalestineChronicle.com
 

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