Right-Wing Protesters Threaten 'NAZA' Directors' Family Home as Israel Faces Domestic and International Backlash

Key points

• Dozens of right-wing agitators gathered outside the parents' home of 'NAZA' co-director Rachel Szor, calling for the 'execution of traitors.'
• Culture Minister Miki Zohar has threatened to revoke the citizenship of Szor and co-director Yuval Abraham, calling the film an 'act of treason.'
• IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir called the film 'blood libels' and 'deliberate distortions of reality,' and said the military would examine possible legal measures against those who disseminate the film's claims.
• Over 40 Israeli human rights, equality, and peace organizations issued a joint statement in support of the filmmakers, calling the institutional response 'characteristic of dictatorial regimes.'
• More than 1,000 Israeli filmmakers signed a petition in solidarity with Szor and Abraham, warning that the backlash could endanger their physical safety.

Background

The documentary 'NAZA' premiered at the Venice Film Festival last week, where it won the Special Jury Prize and received a 25-minute standing ovation. The 80-minute film, which features interviews with Israeli military personnel, portrays Israel's actions in Gaza as mass killings of civilians. The film has yet to be fully released in Israel, and its distributor, MK2 Films, has not announced a release date. The backlash has drawn both domestic and international attention, with global filmmakers and major film festivals defending the directors and calling for an independent investigation into the film's allegations.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Times emphasizes the official and military response to the film, highlighting the threats from Culture Minister Miki Zohar and the IDF's characterization of the film as 'blood libels.' Haaretz focuses on the physical threat to the filmmakers' families, detailing the right-wing agitators' gathering outside Szor's parents' home. The Jerusalem Post highlights the domestic solidarity from Israeli human rights organizations and filmmakers, emphasizing the joint statement and petition in support of the directors. All three outlets agree on the core facts of the backlash and the threats against the filmmakers, but they differ in their emphasis on the official, physical, and domestic responses to the film.

Why it matters

The backlash against 'NAZA' highlights the growing tension in Israel between freedom of expression and the government's response to criticism of its military actions in Gaza. The threats to revoke the citizenship of the filmmakers and the physical intimidation of their families raise serious concerns about the safety of journalists and artists in Israel. The international and domestic support for the filmmakers suggests that the film has sparked a broader debate about the role of art and journalism in public discourse, and the limits of government power to silence dissent.

What to watch

The situation is likely to escalate as the film's release date approaches and the government's response to the backlash becomes clearer. The threats to revoke the citizenship of the filmmakers and the physical intimidation of their families could lead to further protests and international condemnation. The independent investigation into the film's allegations, if it takes place, could have significant implications for the government's credibility and the safety of journalists and artists in Israel.