Documentary: The Occupation of the American Mind | Roger Waters

The Occupation of the American Mind is a 2016 documentary film by Loretta Alper and Jeremy Earp, and narrated by Roger Waters. According to Al Jazeera, the film seeks to show how information warfare waged by Israel and its supporters distorted the truth about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and won over the hearts and minds of Americans for the last 50 years. In other words, The Occupation of the American Mind seeks to explore the United States’ steadfast support for Israel in the face of the latter’s controversial actions.

The documentary film begins with clips of the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2014, and using experts, half of them American Jews, claims to show how the Israeli government and pro-Israel lobby groups use their influence in the American media to shape the views of the American people on its control of the West Bank and Gaza. The Occupation of the American Mind sought to show how Israeli attacks on Palestinians provoked widespread protests around the world, while the United States remained steadfast in its support for Israel despite the crimes committed.

Source: https://www.occupationmovie.org

Some notes on the charge of anti-semitism
The Occupation of the American Mind examines the myriad tactics that government officials and public relations experts use to maintain support for Israeli government policies. One of these tactics is smearing people who criticize Israeli policies as either anti-Semites or “self-hating Jews.” As the film points out, the charge of anti-Semitism has had a chilling effect on public discourse about Israel in the U.S., creating a climate of fear and intimidation that’s made it difficult for people to have rational discussions and debates about Israeli policy and Palestinian human rights. Here are some suggestions for how to handle this tactic if it’s used against you for screening the film.

League of Nations Mandate for Palestine (1922)

Summary of this document for someone new to this topic:

What is the Mandate for Palestine?
After World War I, the Ottoman26 Ottoman Empire, which controlled Palestine, was defeated. The League of Nations (an early version of the United Nations) decided that Britain would temporarily manage Palestine. The Mandate is like a rulebook that spells out what Britain’s job was in governing the area.

Key Points of the Document in Simple Terms:

1. Britain’s Role: The League of Nations gave Britain the responsibility to run Palestine and help set up a “national home for the Jewish people” there. This idea came from the Balfour Declaration (1917), which said Britain supported a homeland for Jews in Palestine.
2. Protecting Everyone’s Rights: The Mandate says Britain should help Jews build their national home while also making sure the rights of non-Jewish people (like Arab communities) in Palestine are protected, including their civil and religious rights.
3. Immigration and Land: Britain was supposed to support Jewish immigration to Palestine and help Jews settle land there. This was to help create the Jewish national home while trying not to harm the existing communities.
4. Administration: Britain had to set up a government system in Palestine, report to the League of Nations, and work toward eventually letting Palestine govern itself (though no clear timeline was given).
5. Holy Places: The Mandate ensured that religious sites in Palestine (important to Jews, Muslims, and Christians) would be protected, and people could freely access them.
6. Transjordan Note: The document includes a note that some rules (like those about Jewish settlement) didn’t apply to the area east of the Jordan River, called Transjordan (now Jordan), which Britain was also managing separately.

Why It Matters:
The Mandate was a big deal because it officially backed the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which led to more Jewish immigration and settlement. This caused tensions with the Arab population, who were the majority in Palestine at the time, setting the stage for future conflicts. It’s a key moment in the history of the modern state of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In Short:
The Mandate was Britain’s job description for running Palestine, with a focus on supporting a Jewish homeland while trying to respect the local Arab population. It’s a short but important document that shaped the region’s future.

League of Nations Mandate For Palestine 1922

The Balfour Declaration

Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917

Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet: “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.

Yours sincerely,
Arthur James Balfour

Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild’s Reply (2nd Baron Rothschild)

British Zionist, Lord Walter Rothschild, James de Rothschild, The Balfour Declaration & the Man-made State of Israel.
Some Historical Context

THE FORGOTTEN TRUTH ABOUT THE BALFOUR DECLARATION

For 100 years the British statement, which inaugurated Zionism’s legitimation in the eyes of the world, has been seen as the isolated act of a single nation. The truth is much different.
June 5, 2017 | Martin Kramer | Appearing in the “Advancing Jewish Thought” Mosaic Magazine.

Chronological Timeline of the Political/Globalist Movement for a Jewish Homeland

(Researched using AI, for summaries. Please use the points here to do your own research.)

• 1862 – Publication of Rome and Jerusalem
  Moses Hess, a German-Jewish socialist, published Rome and Jerusalem: The Last National Question, advocating a Jewish homeland in Palestine where Jews and Arabs could coexist. Driven by European prejudice against Jews, it proposed a national revival but lacked organized action, with no immediate impact on Palestine’s population under Ottoman rule.
• 1870 – Establishment of Mikveh Israel Agricultural School
  The Mikveh Israel Agricultural School was founded near Jaffa in Ottoman Palestine by the Alliance Israélite Universelle, a French-Jewish organization. It promoted Jewish agricultural training and settlement, initiating land acquisitions that affected Palestinian farmers’ livelihoods, laying groundwork for later colonization efforts.
• 1878 – Petah Tikva Settlement Founded
  Petah Tikva, one of the first modern Jewish settlements, was established by religious Jews from Jerusalem in Ottoman Palestine. Inspired by aspirations to return to the biblical Land of Israel, it sparked early tensions with local Palestinian communities over land use due to settlement expansion.
• 1879 – First Use of “Anti-Semite”
  German journalist Wilhelm Marr coined “anti-Semite” in his pamphlet The Victory of Judaism over Germandom. The term framed prejudice against Jews as a political and racial stance to oppose their integration in Europe, fueling calls for a Jewish homeland to escape such hostility.
• 1881 – Russian Pogroms and Hovevei Zion Movement
  Following the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, anti-Jewish pogroms in the Russian Empire killed hundreds and displaced thousands. The Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) movement emerged, advocating Jewish immigration to Palestine to escape persecution, beginning organized settlement efforts that impacted Palestinian land tenure.
• 1882 – First Aliyah
  The First Aliyah saw 25,000–35,000 Jews migrate to Ottoman Palestine, driven by Hovevei Zion and anti-Jewish persecution in Eastern Europe. Establishing colonies like Rishon LeZion, they purchased land from absentee landlords, displacing Palestinian tenant farmers and initiating demographic shifts.
• 1890 – First Use of “Zionist”
  Nathan Birnbaum coined “Zionist” in his journal Selbstemanzipation to describe the movement for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. It formalized the political aim of Jewish self-determination, distinct from religious aspirations, setting the stage for global efforts to settle Palestine.
• 1894–1906 – Dreyfus Affair
  The Dreyfus Affair, a scandal in France, began in 1894 when Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus was falsely convicted of treason, sparking public anti-Jewish hostility. His exoneration in 1906 exposed entrenched prejudice, convincing figures like Theodor Herzl that Jews needed a homeland to escape such persecution.
• 1896 – Publication of Der Judenstaat
  Theodor Herzl published Der Judenstaat (“The Jewish State”), proposing a sovereign Jewish state in Palestine or elsewhere to escape European anti-Jewish hostility. Influenced by the Dreyfus Affair, it galvanized global Jewish support for a national homeland, with minimal regard for Palestine’s existing population.
• 1897 – First Zionist Congress
  Held August 29–31, 1897, in Basel, Switzerland, the First Zionist Congress founded the Zionist Organization and adopted the Basel Program, stating: “Zionism seeks to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law.” It coordinated immigration and diplomatic efforts, prioritizing Jewish settlement over Palestinian interests.
• 1901 – Establishment of the Jewish National Fund
  The Jewish National Fund (JNF) was created to buy land in Palestine for Jewish settlement. Purchasing from absentee landlords, it enabled colonization, often evicting Palestinian tenants, which sparked resistance and shifted land ownership patterns toward Jewish control.
• 1908 – First Palestinian Anti-Zionist Newspaper
  Al-Karmil, founded by Palestinian Christian Najib Nassar, criticized Zionist land purchases and settlement as threats to Palestinian sovereignty. It marked early organized intellectual resistance, reflecting Palestinian concerns about displacement and loss of control under Ottoman rule.
• 1916 – Sykes-Picot Agreement
  The secret Sykes-Picot Agreement between Britain and France divided Ottoman territories, placing Palestine under British influence. It facilitated British support for Zionist goals, setting the stage for increased Jewish immigration, while ignoring Arab promises of independence.
• 1917 – Balfour Declaration
  On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration to Lionel Walter Rothschild, pledging support for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. It vaguely promised to protect non-Jewish rights but prioritized Zionist goals, overlooking the 90% Palestinian majority.
• 1920 – British Mandate for Palestine Established
  The League of Nations granted Britain the Mandate for Palestine in 1920, formalized in 1922, incorporating the Balfour Declaration. Britain enabled Jewish immigration, raising the Jewish population from 56,000 (1918) to 88,000 (1922), while denying Palestinian self-governance, escalating tensions.
• 1920 – Jerusalem Riots
  In April 1920, Palestinian Arabs attacked Jewish residents in Jerusalem, killing several, amid fears of Zionist immigration and land loss. Fueled by British pro-Zionist policies and unfulfilled Arab independence promises, the riots marked early violent resistance to Jewish settlement expansion.
• 1929 – Hebron Massacre
  In August 1929, Palestinian Arabs killed 67 Jews in Hebron amid disputes over Jerusalem’s holy sites and Zionist immigration. Driven by fears of displacement, the massacre ended Hebron’s ancient Jewish community, intensifying conflict between Jewish settlers and Palestinians.
• 1936–1939 – Great Palestinian Revolt
  The Great Palestinian Revolt, an uprising against British rule and Zionist immigration, involved strikes, protests, and armed resistance. Palestinians demanded an end to Jewish land purchases and immigration (30,000–60,000 Jews arrived in 1933–1936). British and Zionist forces suppressed it, weakening Palestinian leadership.
• 1937 – Peel Commission Report
  The Peel Commission proposed partitioning Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem internationalized. Zionists viewed it as a step toward statehood, while Palestinians rejected it, asserting rights to all of Palestine, deepening the divide over land and sovereignty.
• 1939 – White Paper of 1939
  The British White Paper limited Jewish immigration to 75,000 over five years and proposed a binational state. Zionist groups like Irgun opposed it violently, while Palestinians saw it as insufficient, as Jewish settlement and land acquisition continued unabated.
• 1947 – UN Partition Plan (Resolution 181)
  On November 29, 1947, the UN General Assembly’s Resolution 181 proposed dividing Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, allocating 56% to Jews despite their one-third population share. Zionists accepted it, while Palestinians and Arab states rejected it as unjust, sparking violence.
• 1948 (April) – Deir Yassin Massacre
  On April 9, 1948, Zionist groups Irgun and Lehi killed at least 107 Palestinian civilians in Deir Yassin under Plan Dalet to secure strategic areas. The massacre triggered widespread fear, prompting thousands of Palestinians to flee, marking a pivotal moment in the Nakba.
• 1948 (May 14) – Declaration of the State of Israel
  David Ben-Gurion declared the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, based on the UN plan and Balfour Declaration, following British withdrawal. It established a Jewish state, prioritizing Zionist objectives over Palestinian self-determination.
• 1948–1949 – First Arab-Israeli War (Nakba)
  After Israel’s declaration, Arab states invaded, sparking the 1948 war. Zionist forces captured 78% of Mandate Palestine, expelling or causing the flight of over 700,000 Palestinians, whose villages were destroyed in the Nakba (“catastrophe”), preventing their return.
• 1949 – Armistice Agreements
  In 1949, Israel signed armistice agreements with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, ending the 1948 war. Israel controlled 78% of Palestine, Jordan held the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Egypt held Gaza. Palestinian refugees were barred from returning, with lands seized under Israel’s Absentee Property Law.
• 1950 – Israel’s Law of Return
  Israel’s Law of Return, enacted in 1950, granted Jews worldwide automatic citizenship, reinforcing a Jewish-majority state. Over 700,000 Palestinian refugees were denied return, despite UN Resolution 194, entrenching their displacement.
• 1967 – Six-Day War
  In June 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Sinai, and Golan Heights, displacing 300,000–500,000 Palestinians. Israel’s occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem (unrecognized internationally) restricted Palestinian self-determination and expanded settlement activity.
• 1987 – Formation of Hamas
  Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Islamic Resistance Movement), was founded in December 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin during the First Intifada, emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mujama al-Islamiya in Gaza. Some sources claim Israel indirectly supported Yassin’s group in the 1970s–1980s to counter the PLO’s Yasser Arafat, with figures like Yitzhak Segev and Avner Cohen admitting this aimed to divide Palestinians, a strategy Arafat called a “creature of Israel” and Rabin reportedly deemed a “fatal error.” Hamas’s 1988 charter rejected Israel’s existence, escalating tensions with both Israel and the PLO.
• 1993 – Oslo Accords (Declaration of Principles)
  Signed on September 13, 1993, the Oslo Accords between Israel and the PLO, led by Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin, promised limited Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas rejected the agreement, viewing it as a compromise. Israel’s continued settlement expansion and movement restrictions eroded Palestinian trust, fragmenting their territory.
• 1995 – Oslo II Accord (Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip)
  Signed on September 28, 1995, the Oslo II Accord divided the West Bank into Areas A (Palestinian control), B (shared control), and C (Israeli control), expanding Palestinian governance in parts of Gaza. Israel retained authority over 60% of the West Bank, where settlement growth restricted Palestinian access to land, hindering a cohesive state.
• 2000 – Second Intifada (Al-Aqsa Intifada)
  Beginning in September 2000, the Second Intifada was a Palestinian uprising triggered by Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif and frustration with Oslo’s failures. Palestinian protests, including Hamas-led attacks, and Israeli military responses led to over 3,000 Palestinian and 1,000 Israeli deaths by 2005, deepening Palestinian hardship through checkpoints and incursions.
• 2002 – Construction of the West Bank Barrier
  In 2002, Israel began building a separation barrier in the West Bank, claiming it was to stop Palestinian attacks during the Second Intifada. The barrier’s route, cutting deep into Palestinian territory, annexed 9–10% of the West Bank, isolating villages, restricting farmland access, and entrenching Israel’s dominance over occupied areas. Palestinians, facing intensified military control and settlement expansion, viewed their actions as resistance to protect their land and rights.
• 2005 – Gaza Disengagement
  In August 2005, Israel withdrew settlers and troops from Gaza, dismantling 21 settlements. Israel maintained control over Gaza’s borders, airspace, and sea access, imposing restrictions. Presented as a peace gesture, the disengagement enabled West Bank settlement growth, while Gaza’s blockade worsened Palestinian living conditions.
• 2006 – Hamas Election Victory in Gaza
  In January 2006, Hamas won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Election, gaining control of Gaza’s governance. Israel and Western powers imposed a blockade, citing Hamas’s stance against recognizing Israel, restricting goods, movement, and development. This deepened Palestinian suffering in Gaza and entrenched divisions with the Fatah-led West Bank.
• 2007 – Hamas Takeover of Gaza (Battle of Gaza)
  In June 2007, Hamas seized control of Gaza from Fatah after violent clashes, following failed power-sharing efforts. Israel tightened its blockade, limiting Gaza’s resources and mobility. The takeover solidified the split between Hamas-controlled Gaza and the Fatah-led West Bank, complicating Palestinian unity under occupation.
• 2008–2009 – Gaza War (Operation Cast Lead)
  From December 27, 2008, to January 18, 2009, Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, targeting Hamas amid mutual escalations, including Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli raids. The conflict killed over 1,400 Palestinians (many civilians) and 13 Israelis, destroying Gaza’s infrastructure. The blockade intensified the humanitarian crisis, limiting Palestinian recovery.
• 2012 – Gaza War (Operation Pillar of Defense)
  From November 14–21, 2012, Israel conducted Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza, targeting Hamas amid escalating violence. Palestinian rocket fire, triggered by Israeli airstrikes and tightened blockade restrictions (e.g., limited fuel imports), prompted Israel’s response. The conflict killed around 170 Palestinians and 6 Israelis, damaging Gaza’s infrastructure and deepening Palestinian isolation under ongoing restrictions. [Source: Middle East Monitor, UN OCHA reports]
• 2014 – Gaza War (Operation Protective Edge)
  From July 8 to August 26, 2014, Israel’s Operation Protective Edge targeted Hamas in Gaza, following mutual escalations, including Palestinian rocket fire responding to Israeli arrests and raids. The conflict killed over 2,200 Palestinians (mostly civilians) and 73 Israelis, devastating Gaza’s infrastructure and displacing tens of thousands, with the blockade hindering rebuilding efforts.
• 2021 – Israel-Palestine Crisis (May Escalation)
  In May 2021, violence erupted over evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah and clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas fired rockets, citing these provocations, and Israel responded with airstrikes, killing over 250 Palestinians and 12 Israelis. The crisis highlighted ongoing Palestinian displacement driven by Israeli settlement policies.
• 2023 (January–October) – Escalating Tensions Preceding October 7 Hamas Attack
  From January to October 2023, Palestinians faced intensified Israeli actions, which Hamas cited as provocations for its October 7 attack. Repeated Israeli settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, often under police protection (e.g., Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visits in January and August), were seen as violations of a sacred site. In the West Bank, 2023 was the deadliest year since 2005, with over 300 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers, including a July raid in Jenin killing 12. Settlement expansion displaced about 1,000 Palestinians, with 1,270 settler attacks recorded. Gaza’s 16-year blockade left 81% of residents below the poverty line and 63% food insecure, per UNRWA. Hamas also aimed to disrupt advancing Saudi-Israeli normalization talks, which threatened Palestinian statehood aspirations, as Saudi Arabia had warned of an “explosion” due to occupation pressures. These factors fueled Palestinian resistance, culminating in Hamas’s attack. [Source: Al Jazeera, Middle East Monitor, UN OCHA, UNRWA]
• 2023–2024 – Gaza War (Operation Swords of Iron)
  On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, citing ongoing occupation and blockade. Israel’s Operation Swords of Iron, ongoing into 2024, killed over 40,000 Palestinians (per Palestinian health authorities), displaced nearly 2 million, and destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure, deepening the humanitarian crisis under tightened Israeli control.
• 2025 – Ongoing Occupation and Settlement Expansion (as of September 5, 2025)
  As of September 5, 2025, Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem continues, with over 700,000 Jewish settlers in settlements deemed illegal under international law. Palestinian displacement persists through evictions, demolitions, and land confiscation, while Gaza’s blockade limits reconstruction and self-governance, maintaining Israeli dominance.

Ceasefire Negotiations and Conditions:

• Middle East Monitor (March 3, 2025): Reports that Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend the January 2025 ceasefire, which began January 19, citing Israel’s refusal to commit to a permanent end to the war. The deal involved Hamas releasing 33 hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, with Israel allowing 600 aid trucks daily and partial troop withdrawals. Hamas accused Israel of violating the truce by resuming airstrikes on March 18, 2025, after Hamas rejected a U.S.-backed 50-day truce extension, suggesting Israel links hostage releases to temporary pauses, not a full end to attacks.
• Electronic Intifada (August 20, 2025): Notes that Hamas accepted a Qatari-Egyptian proposal for a 60-day truce involving 10 living and 18 dead hostages, but Israel demanded all 50 remaining hostages be released and Hamas disarm, conditions Hamas rejected. This implies Israel’s terms extend beyond hostage release to Hamas’s surrender, contradicting claims of ending attacks solely for hostages.
• Mondoweiss (September 1, 2025): Highlights Hamas’s claim that Israel’s insistence on maintaining a military presence in Gaza (e.g., Philadelphi Corridor) and rejecting a permanent ceasefire undermines talks. Hamas’s Khalil Al-Hayya, on April 17, 2025, offered to release all hostages for a full war end, but Israel’s conditions, including disarmament, were deemed “impossible,” suggesting no clear promise to end attacks for hostages alone.

Specific Claim About Releasing Hostages to End the Conflict:

• Al Jazeera (August 19, 2025): Reports Israel’s demand for all 50 hostages’ release, with only 20 believed alive, casting doubt on a 60-day truce proposal accepted by Hamas. Israeli official David Mencer stated Israel was not interested in “partial deals,” focusing instead on a comprehensive deal requiring Hamas’s defeat, not linking it to ending attacks outright.
• X Posts (August 28–29, 2025): Non-mainstream voices like @muhammadshehad2 and @SuppressedNws claim Israel intends to continue the war and occupy Gaza even if Hamas releases all hostages and disarms, citing Israeli plans to “completely hold control of the entire strip FOREVER.” These posts, while not conclusive, reflect Palestinian skepticism that Israel would end attacks for hostage releases alone, given its broader military goals.

Countries Supporting Egypt’s Statement on Netanyahu’s Displacement RemarksEgypt’s Foreign Ministry statement, issued on September 5, 2025, condemned Netanyahu’s comments suggesting Palestinians could be displaced via the Rafah crossing, labeling them as attempts to prolong conflict and evade accountability for Israeli actions in Gaza. The statement rejected displacement as a violation of international humanitarian law and called for a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and Palestinian Authority control of Gaza’s crossings. Below are countries explicitly supporting Egypt’s position, based on non-mainstream sources and provided web results:

• Qatar: Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on September 5, 2025, fiercely criticizing Netanyahu’s remarks as an “extension of the occupation’s approach to violating Palestinian rights.” It emphasized that Israel’s collective punishment policies, including the Gaza war and Rafah crossing closure, aim to displace Palestinians, aligning with Egypt’s rejection of such practices and urging international action to confront Israel’s policies. [Source: Al Jazeera,; Middle East Monitor,]
• Jordan: Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu’s remarks as a “blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” asserting they encroach on Palestinians’ rights to remain on their land and establish a state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This aligns with Egypt’s call for protecting Palestinian rights and rejecting displacement. [Source: Xinhua,; Social News XYZ,]

The comment Jordan’s Foreign Ministry regarding the 1967 borders is the 1949 Armistice Agreement between Israel and Jordan (April 3, 1949), which established the Green Line, demarcating the West Bank and East Jerusalem under Jordanian control until 1967. Jordan’s September 5, 2025, statement uses this framework to advocate for a Palestinian state on pre-1967 lines, condemning Israeli displacement policies as violations of international law.