Israeli Minister Seeks Citizenship Revocation for Filmmakers of Venice Festival Winner

Israel's Minister of Culture and Sport, Miki Zohar, has formally requested that the Ministry of Interior examine the possibility of revoking the Israeli citizenship of Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shor, the creators of the film "No Other Land" (Nezah). The film recently won an award at the Venice Film Festival.

Zohar's demand follows his public statements yesterday that he would pursue citizenship revocation. In his official letter to the Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Israel Oz, Zohar asked for an investigation, in coordination with legal and security officials, into the sources of evidence and materials used in the film. Specifically, he wants to determine if the acquisition or publication of these materials constituted treason or aided an enemy during wartime.

The Israeli military (IDF) has strongly refuted a central claim made in the film, labeling it a "complete lie." The IDF stated that the testimony underpinning the claim lacks factual support and that the described attack was "never planned, approved, or carried out."

Zohar commented on his actions, stating, "Israeli citizenship represents a fundamental bond between a citizen and their state. Freedom of expression cannot serve as a cover for acts of treason or aiding the enemy during wartime. If it is proven that the filmmakers crossed this line, the State of Israel must act to revoke their citizenship."

Concurrently, the Israeli Council for Cinema announced an emergency meeting to address the controversy. The council will reconsider the scoring system for Israeli film festivals abroad. While affirming Israel's commitment to freedom of expression and diverse voices, the council declared that "No Other Land" "crosses a red line and constitutes a severe defamation of IDF soldiers." The council also raised concerns about the film's reliance on anonymous interviewees, questioning its credibility. They criticized the filmmakers for "exploiting Israeli creative freedom" to damage the country and its soldiers, allegedly for "awards and funding from hostile international entities." The council reiterated its support for "quality, constructive, and diverse" Israeli cinema but pledged to act against the perceived exploitation of filmmaking to harm the nation and its soldiers.