Netanyahu Slams Israeli Film at Venice Festival as 'Unbearable'
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the Israeli documentary "Nez'a," which won an award at the Venice Film Festival, calling it "unbearable" and an attempt to defame the IDF. He urged opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to condemn the film and distance himself from those involved. The IDF Chief of Staff also denounced the film as a distortion of reality and vowed to explore legal action.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu calls Israeli film at Venice Film Festival 'unbearable'.
- Prime Minister links film to alleged slander of IDF soldiers.
- Netanyahu demands opposition leader Eisenkot condemn the film.
- IDF Chief of Staff vows to explore legal action against filmmakers.
- Documentary "Nez'a" reportedly examines Gaza killings based on soldier testimonies.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted sharply on Monday to the Israeli documentary "Nez'a," which won a jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival. "I heard, and it is appalling," Netanyahu stated in response to a question about the film, adding, "When it comes from us, it is simply unbearable." He accused the filmmakers of presenting the IDF as "war criminals" and linked the film to a chain of events he claims are aimed at denigrating the military. Netanyahu specifically cited remarks by Yair Golan, whom he accused of saying "we murder babies as a hobby," and a "cooked and false video" allegedly leaked by "Patzarit" (a reference to a military intelligence unit) that he claims slanders IDF soldiers. The documentary "Nez'a," whose title is an acronym for "accidental damage," reportedly examines "the mechanisms behind the mass killing in Gaza based on testimonies from 24 IDF soldiers and officers."
Netanyahu also connected the film to internal Israeli politics, calling on Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the National Unity party, to annul a surplus vote agreement with Yair Golan's party and to condemn the film. "I say to Gadi Eisenkot, cancel your surplus vote agreement with Yair Golan's party. Issue a sharp condemnation of this matter and remove this guy from your list," Netanyahu demanded.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi also held consultations regarding the film, involving senior military officials. Halevi stated that the film represents a deliberate attempt to directly harm the legitimacy of the IDF and the State of Israel. "According to the publications so far, this is not a film criticizing the IDF nor an attempt to ascertain the truth," Halevi said. "It is based on blood libels, deliberate distortion of reality, and false and serious accusations against IDF soldiers and their commanders." He added that the film "adopts narratives of Israel's enemies, defames IDF soldiers and their commanders," and instructed a review of legal actions against those involved in its production.
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