Netanyahu Pushes 'Naza Laws' to Punish Critics of Israel, IDF

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he has ordered the immediate advancement of legislative proposals he termed "Naza Laws." These laws are aimed at individuals accused of "defaming" Israeli soldiers and Israel abroad. The proposed legislation includes significantly increasing compensation in defamation lawsuits to one million shekels and introducing the possibility of revoking citizenship.

Netanyahu's announcement came amid an ongoing campaign against the film "Naza," by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore. The film is based on testimonies from Israeli soldiers detailing army practices during the war in Gaza and has sparked widespread criticism within Israel against its creators and participants.

"We will protect our heroic fighters," Netanyahu stated, adding that he had instructed "the preparation and immediate advancement of Naza Laws against the defamation of our heroic soldiers and the State of Israel." He further elaborated, "We will revoke the citizenship of those who defame the Israeli army soldiers in the world, and we will hit them hard in their pockets."

According to Netanyahu's office, the government intends to advance two legislative proposals during the Knesset recess. The first, spearheaded by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, aims to increase the compensation cap in defamation lawsuits that do not require proof of damage by twentyfold, reaching one million shekels. The second proposal, to be advanced by the Interior Ministry, would allow for the revocation of citizenship for those deemed to have "defamed Israeli army soldiers and the State of Israel in the world," though the final legal wording and conditions for its application remain unclear.

Netanyahu cited three cases in a video message that he claimed caused significant damage to Israel, its army, and its soldiers. These included statements by Yair Golan regarding the killing of children and infants in Gaza as a "hobby," the leak of a video from Sde Teiman detention center showing soldiers violently assaulting a Palestinian detainee, and the "Naza" film itself. He used these examples to justify the new legislative proposals amidst rising official pressure on the film's creators and soldiers who provided testimonies, alongside calls for investigations into the materials used in the film and potential leaks of military information.

This move occurs within a political campaign led by Netanyahu and other government officials, framing criticism of the Israeli military domestically and internationally as an attack on Israel and its global image. Meanwhile, human rights and legal circles are warning that such legislative and punitive measures could restrict freedom of expression and target critics of government and military policies.