Timed Chapter Summaries
Holy Land Timed Chapter Summary – Abridged Version
1. The Land (42 seconds)
A vignette of West Bank images.
2. Aron in Esh Kodesh (2:06)
Meet Aron, his wife Rivka, and their children. They live in Esh Kodesh, a small outpost settlement in the northern West Bank. Aron has just started building a new house, about 100 meters from his existing place, a house trailer.
3. Nasri in Bet Omar (2:10)
Nasri is Mayor of the town of Bet Omar. He talks about the many Israeli settlements that have grown around the town, Israeli occupation, the factionalism of Palestinian politics and the difficulties of running the town. The town hasn’t had elections in a number of years. Nasri, who is from the Fatah party, was appointed to the job after the town ran into hard times under the leadership of Hamas, the Islamist party.
4. Hagit Ofran of Peace Now (3:43)
Hagit is director of the settlement watch project of Peace Now, an Israeli group opposed to the occupation. She visits a village to meet with Palestinians who report on recent settler encroachments. At a press conference, Hagit and the director of Peace Now talk about accelerated settlement construction, and the threat to the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
5. Rabbi Menachem Froman of Tekoa (3:03)
Rabbi Menachem Froman is an Orthodox rabbi, a settler and an unconventional peace advocate. He visits a Palestinian village where a mosque was vandalized, probably by extremist settlers — a “price tag” attack. Froman lives in the settlement of Tekoa, and was one of its first residents. He explains his view: religious leaders should work to achieve peace, and settlers in particular should be “the bridge.” Froman’s son Shivi talks about how the settlers arrived in the West Bank like “aliens.”
6. Mohammad Tamimi in Nabi Saleh (4:20)
Mohammad Tamimi lives in the village of Nabi Saleh, a major West Bank flashpoint where there are weekly protests. Mohammad is an online journalist, who reports on the struggles via social media. Mohammad’s father, Atallah, is arrested at one of the protests, and his mother Khitam goes to show her husband’s ID to the Israeli soldiers who have detained him.
7. Migron (2:03)
Hagit talks about Migron, the highly contested settler outpost. The courts have ruled that it was built illegally on private Palestinian land and issued a ruling for it to be evacuated. The settlers have postponed the eviction via legal and political means. Reuven Rivlin, later elected President of Israel, visits Migron to show support for the settlers.
8. Aron Builds (1:43)
Aron’s outpost won’t be directly affected by the Migron case, but he’s following it with interest. He blames the eviction on liberal activists. He asserts that his vineyard and house were placed on unclaimed land, not owned by Palestinians. He visits the new house construction site with his family to check on progress.
9. Nasri’s Land (2:41)
Nasri goes to his farm land to plant grapes with his son and to supervise the building of a water cistern. His land directly adjoins the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur, and he alleges that the settlers have expanded their borders illegally. At home, Nasri tells his history of imprisonment and torture in Israeli jails, but emphasizes that he believes in peaceful resistance, a two-state solution and direct cooperation with international and Israeli peace groups.
10. Rabbi Froman and Shivi (2:36)
Rabbi Froman is suffering from late state colorectal cancer. He says that he has asked his son Shivi to carry the rabbi’s message forward into the future. Despite the illness, Rabbi Froman conducts weekly teachings and musical performances that draw many young followers.
11. Migron Escalates (2:20)
The political battle over Migron escalates. Hagit speaks at a hearing in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament). Chaim Teitelbaum, a settler from Migron, defends the outpost at the same hearing.
12. Chaim in Migron ( :46)
In Migron, Chaim emphasizes that Migron is home to a group of families who feel they are serving the interests of Israel.
13. Killing of Mustafa Tamimi (3:22)
During a protest, Mohammad’s cousin Mustafa Tamimi is hit in the face by a tear gas canister and dies the next day. Mohammad attends the funeral, and confronts Israeli soldiers in the aftermath.
14. Snow (1:35)
An unusual snow falls on the West Bank. Nasri supervises his town’s clean up. The Fromans sled and throw snow balls.
15. Aron Under Attack (1:24)
Aron walks over muddy land dusted with snow. Tensions with local Palestinians have escalated. Aron watches videos of a particularly violent clash.
16. Nasri Under Pressure (1:59)
Nasri talks about growing problems in the town, with the Palestinian Authority pressing to collect taxes and bills that some of the residents struggle to pay.
17. Aron Moves in (1:01)
Spring comes to the West Bank. Aron and his family move into their new house.
18. Nasri Resigns (1:19)
Nasri resigns as mayor. He was unable to accede to Palestinian Authority demands to collect more taxes and other fees from the town.
19. Mohammad’s Magazine (1:13)
Mohammad publishes a new magazine that features major coverage of Mustafa’s killing.
20. Mohammad Arrested (3:04)
Israeli forces go into Nabi Saleh at night. Mohammad is arrested and charged with throwing stones. He later is tried in a military court and is sentenced to three months in jail.
21. Aron In The Old City (2:47)
In the Old City of Jerusalem, Aron conducts a basic training session for American and other foreign youth who may join the Israeli army. He delivers a speech in which he warns that Arabs want to kill the Jews and destroy Israel, and summons the memories of Auschwitz.
22. Nasri Returns (2:22)
Palestinian local elections are held for the first time since 2005. Nasri runs. His ticket wins, and he becomes Mayor again.
23. Migron Evicted (3:34)
Hagit goes to the Supreme Court, where a last ditch appeal by the Migron settlers is being heard. The appeal is rejected, and a final evacuation order is issued. The police, army and other forces arrive at Migron to move the settlers out. Chaim and his family are among the evacuees. With some resistance from youthful settlers, the evacuation is completed. Hagit reflects on Peace Now’s unusual victory, and states that the moment of truth for the two-state solution is not far away.
24. Rabbi Menachem Froman
Rabbi Froman’s funeral. Shivi and his family are joined by hundreds of mourners.
Holy Land Timed Chapter Summary – Theatrical Edition
1. The Land (42 seconds)
A vignette of West Bank images.
2. Aron in Esh Kodesh (2:50)
Meet Aron, his wife Rivka, and their children. They live in Esh Kodesh, a small outpost settlement in the northern West Bank. Aron has just started building a new house, about 100 meters from his existing place, a house trailer.
3. Nasri in Bet Omar (2:34)
Nasri is Mayor of the town of Bet Omar. He talks about the many Israeli settlements that have grown around the town, Israeli occupation, the factionalism of Palestinian politics and the difficulties of running the town. The town hasn’t had elections in a number of years. Nasri, who is from the Fatah party, was appointed to the job after the town ran into hard times under the leadership of Hamas, the Islamist party.
4. Hagit Ofran of Peace Now (2:34)
Hagit is director of the settlement watch project of Peace Now, an Israeli group opposed to the occupation. She visits a village to meet with Palestinians who report on recent settler encroachments. At a press conference, Hagit and the director of Peace Now talk about accelerated settlement construction, and the threat to the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
5. Rabbi Menachem Froman of Tekoa (4:27)
Rabbi Menachem Froman is an Orthodox rabbi, a settler and an unconventional peace advocate. He visits a Palestinian village where a mosque was vandalized, probably by extremist settlers — a “price tag” attack. Froman lives in the settlement of Tekoa, and was one of its first residents. He explains his view: religious leaders should work to achieve peace, and settlers in particular should be “the bridge.” Froman’s son Shivi talks about how the settlers arrived in the West Bank like “aliens.”
6. Mohammad Tamimi in Nabi Saleh (5:36)
Mohammad Tamimi lives in the village of Nabi Saleh, a major West Bank flashpoint where there are weekly protests. Mohammad is an online journalist, who reports on the struggles via social media. Mohammad’s father, Atallah, is arrested at one of the protests, and his mother Khitam goes to show her husband’s ID to the Israeli soldiers who have detained him.
7. Migron (3:27)
Hagit talks about Migron, the highly contested settler outpost. The courts have ruled that it was built illegally on private Palestinian land and issued a ruling for it to be evacuated. The settlers have postponed the eviction via legal and political means. Reuven Rivlin, later elected President of Israel, visits Migron to show support for the settlers.
8. Aron Builds (2:16)
Aron’s outpost won’t be directly affected by the Migron case, but he’s following it with interest. He blames the eviction on liberal activists. He asserts that his vineyard and house were placed on unclaimed land, not owned by Palestinians. He visits the new house construction site with his family to check on progress.
9. Nasri’s Land (4:16)
Nasri goes to his farm land to plant grapes with his son and to supervise the building of a water cistern. His land directly adjoins the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur, and he alleges that the settlers have expanded their borders illegally. At home, Nasri tells his history of imprisonment and torture in Israeli jails, but emphasizes that he believes in peaceful resistance, a two-state solution and direct cooperation with international and Israeli peace groups.
10. Rabbi Froman and Shivi (4:00)
Rabbi Froman is suffering from late state colorectal cancer. He says that he has asked his son Shivi to carry the rabbi’s message forward into the future. Despite the illness, Rabbi Froman conducts weekly teachings and musical performances that draw many young followers.
11. Migron Escalates (3:44)
The political battle over Migron escalates. Hagit speaks at a hearing in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament). Chaim Teitelbaum, a settler from Migron, defends the outpost at the same hearing.
12. Chaim in Migron ( :46)
In Migron, Chaim emphasizes that Migron is home to a group of families who feel they are serving the interests of Israel.
13. Killing of Mustafa Tamimi (3:45)
During a protest, Mohammad’s cousin Mustafa Tamimi is hit in the face by a tear gas canister and dies the next day. Mohammad attends the funeral, and confronts Israeli soldiers in the aftermath.
14. Snow (1:07)
An unusual snow falls on the West Bank. Nasri supervises his town’s clean up. The Fromans sled and throw snow balls.
15. Aron Under Attack (1:57)
Aron walks over muddy land dusted with snow. Tensions with local Palestinians have escalated. Aron watches videos of a particularly violent clash.
16. Nasri Under Pressure (2:00)
Nasri talks about growing problems in the town, with the Palestinian Authority pressing to collect taxes and bills that some of the residents struggle to pay.
17. Burqa Mosque (1:16)
Hagit arrives at a mosque near Migron that has been vandalized with Hebrew graffiti and a fire, another “price tag” attack. She speaks with the Palestinians there about the Migron case.
18. Fromans on the Beach (2:32)
Rabbi Froman goes to a rally in Tel Aviv to speak out against violence in Syria. Froman and his wife stand on the beach under a full moon.
19. Aron Moves In (1:18)
Spring comes to the West Bank. Aron and his family move into their new house.
20. Nasri Resigns (1:34)
Nasri resigns as mayor. He refused to accede to Palestinian Authority demands to collect more taxes and other fees from the town.
21. Mohammad’s Magazine (2:50)
Mohammad publishes a new magazine that features major coverage of Mustafa’s killing.
22. Nasri’s Son Gets Married (2:08)
Nasri and his family host a large party and a wedding. People come up to Nasri and urge him to run for election as Mayor.
23. Hagit’s Award (1:59)
Hagit receives an award in the name of her grandfather, the prominent Israeli intellectual Yeshayahu Leibowitz, an early and outspoken critic of the occupation.
24. Mohammad Arrested (3:33)
Israeli forces go into Nabi Saleh at night. Mohammad is arrested and charged with throwing stones. He later is tried in a military court and is sentenced to three months in jail.
25. Aron In The Old City (3:22)
In the Old City of Jerusalem, Aron conducts a basic training session for American and other foreign youth who may join the Israeli army. He delivers a speech in which he warns that Arabs want to kill the Jews and destroy Israel, and summons the memories of Auschwitz.
26. Mohammad’s Family (1:29)
Mohammad’s family celebrates the al-Adha holiday while Mohammad is still in jail. Khitam quietly straightens up her son’s empty room.
27. Nasri Returns (2:33)
Palestinian local elections are held for the first time since 2005. Nasri runs. His ticket wins, and he becomes Mayor again.
28. Migron Evicted (4:03)
Hagit goes to the Supreme Court, where a last ditch appeal by the Migron settlers is being heard. The appeal is rejected, and a final evacuation order is issued. The police, army and other forces arrive at Migron to move the settlers out. Chaim and his family are among the evacuees. With some resistance from youthful settlers, the evacuation is completed. Hagit reflects on Peace Now’s unusual victory, and states that the moment of truth for the two-state solution is not far away.
29. Rabbi Menachem Froman (3:00)
Rabbi Froman’s funeral. Shivi and his family are joined by hundreds of mourners.