Israeli culture minister calls for citizenship revocation of award-winning Naza directors
Culture Minister Miki Zohar demanded that Israeli citizenship be stripped from Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the directors of the film Naza, accusing them of betraying the state after their Venice award.
The Israeli Ministry of Culture announced that Minister Miki Zohar will move to revoke the citizenship of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the creators of the film Naza, which recently received an award at the Venice Film Festival. Zohar labeled the filmmakers as traitors, accusing them of exploiting anti-Semitic sentiment for applause and of slandering Israel's armed forces. He pledged immediate action to strip them of their nationality.
Earlier, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir denounced the duo, calling their statements a disgrace to the Israeli people and warning of "collateral damage" against Israel. Ben Gvir added that Hamas would likely receive the directors with open arms. The controversy highlights a growing clash between Israeli officials and cultural figures over the portrayal of the conflict. No official response from the filmmakers was reported.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
- Coverage peaked at 7 outlets in a single hour
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage highlights the minister’s harsh language and frames the directors as victims of a treason accusation, centrist coverage reports the facts of the film’s award and the minister’s threat without judgment, and right-leaning coverage portrays the documentary as anti-Israeli propaganda and endorses the minister’s stance.
LEFT
Focuses on the minister’s accusatory rhetoric and depicts the directors as award-winning victims of a treason charge
CENTER
Presents a neutral account of the film’s accolades and the minister’s call to revoke citizenship
RIGHT
Casts the documentary as hostile to Israel and frames the minister’s action as a justified response to Hollywood bias
The left emphasises
- "despicable creators"
- "treason against the state"
- award-winning status of the directors
The right emphasises
- Hollywood’s crusade against Jews and Israel
- documentary argues Israel is purposefully targeting civilians
- director’s alleged willingness to "harm their homeland"
How this story developed
- Aug 30 Laura Dern to Present George Clooney with Venice Lifetime Achievement Lion
- Sep 10 Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor will premiere their new documentary "NAZA" about Gaza civilian deaths at the Venice Film Festival.
- Sep 10 Naza was added to the Venice Film Festival line‑up only weeks before the event concludes.
- Sep 13 May el‑Toukhy’s ‘Woman Unknown’ won the Golden Lion and John Malkovich received the best‑actor prize at the festival.
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