WASHINGTON, December 11 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - On the grounds that “Palestine is not a nation”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has refused the Palestinian entry “Divine Intervention”, for the nomination of “Best Foreign Film”.

Hollywood producer Phil Ed sharply criticized the Academy’s stance, stating : "it seems to me that the Academy and the entire Hollywood film industry has lost yet another piece of its credibility," reported The Palestine Chronicle.

The movie, which was directed by the renowned Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, recently won the Jury Award in the world famous Cannes Film Festival of France.

“Divine Intervention” impressed the festival with its imaginative treatment of moments of life of Palestinians trying to get by while being hindered by Israeli military controls and checkpoints.

The film describes a love story between a Palestinian man from occupied Jerusalem, and a Palestinian woman from Ramallah, set against the background of the harsh conditions of Israeli occupation and repression.

The sharp contrast between the film coming out as a winner in the Cannes festival on the European continent, while not being allowed to enter the competition in the United States, illustrates the differences in the political climate between the two continents.