Israeli Left Shifts From Zionism to Post-Nationalism, Filmmaker Embodies Change

A lengthy ovation at the Venice Film Festival for the film "Nez'a" (Collateral Damage) by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore signals a profound shift within the Israeli left, moving from its historical Zionist and socialist roots towards a post-nationalist, and at times anti-Zionist, stance. The article argues that Abraham represents this "new left," which prioritizes the suffering of the 'enemy' over its own people and seeks to dismantle aspects of Israel's military and political advantage to address perceived Palestinian oppression.

The film "Nez'a" reportedly uses the October 7th attacks as a backdrop, focusing instead on the "collateral damage" inflicted by Israel on Palestinians, rather than the atrocities committed by Hamas. The author criticizes the film for omitting the full context of October 7th, downplaying the massacre, and ignoring Hamas's use of civilian areas for military infrastructure, which complicated IDF operations. While acknowledging a filmmaker's right to choose their perspective, the article posits that Abraham's consistent focus on Israel as the accused and Palestinians as victims reflects his core values and the evolving identity of the Israeli left.

This evolution is traced through generational shifts: from David Ben-Gurion, who championed a strong Jewish state, to Aharon Barak, who emphasized legal constraints and rights, and now to Abraham, whose moral compass aligns with international perspectives on Israel. This progression is characterized as a move from Zionist nationalism to legal liberalism, and finally to a globalist, post-nationalist outlook, often validated by European cultural elites and institutions.

The article notes that "Nez'a" was produced by The Guardian and JW Films, and Abraham's previous film received Palestinian-Norwegian co-production support, highlighting an international ecosystem that rewards a specific narrative about Israel. The author cautions against equating applause from cultural elites with moral correctness, citing historical examples. Citing a 2026 JPPI poll showing a majority identifying with the right in Israel, the piece suggests this shift is partly due to segments of the left making Jewish nationalism seem apologetic, a stance increasingly rejected by Israelis, especially after October 7th. Abraham, as an Oscar winner and festival favorite speaking a globally recognized language, is presented as the prototype for a new moral authority for this evolving left, marking a transition from building a state (Ben-Gurion) and restraining it (Barak) to putting it on trial (Abraham).