Israeli Cinema Council Demands "NezA" Screening Amid Propaganda Claims

The Israeli Cinema Council has issued a sharp demand for the immediate screening of the documentary "NezA" for council members and professionals in Israel, following its premiere across Europe. The council warned that preventing the film's exhibition and withholding it from professionals raises serious questions and strengthens suspicions that it is a fabricated propaganda piece. "This concealment raises grave concerns that the work serves Israel's enemies, primarily Hamas in Gaza, at the expense of IDF soldiers and fallen heroes of Israel's conflicts," the council stated. The demand comes amid a significant public outcry after the film won an award at the Venice Film Festival, with many in Israel accusing its creators, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, of harming the country and the IDF.

This call from the Cinema Council joins a chorus of strong reactions from senior figures in the security and political establishments. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir vehemently criticized the filmmakers, stating they "blacken the faces of IDF soldiers and their commanders in various ways, using baseless lies and manipulations." He asserted, "This is a national and international mission, and we must stand by it on every stage and against every accuser, stating clearly: the IDF is the most moral army in the world."

Culture Minister Miki Zohar has taken further action, requesting the head of the Shin Bet security agency, David Barnea, to investigate the sources and materials used in the film's creation and how the filmmakers obtained them. Zohar noted in his letter that while the creators claim the film is based on testimonies from Israeli military and intelligence personnel, the sources are concealed, and their identity and reliability cannot be verified.

Voices from the ground, including bereaved families and combatants, have also weighed in. Hagai Louber, father of fallen Sergeant Major Yonatan Louber, expressed pain on radio, saying his son was collateral damage from "miserable decisions" that could have been prevented. Yochai Gringlick, cousin of fallen Sergeant Major Shauli Gringlick, strongly condemned the film, calling the damage it inflicts on Israel and the IDF "deliberate and malicious," and more harmful than Israeli spies for Iran.

Former Chief Rabbi of Israel, David Lau, commented that those who spread slander about the country and its soldiers endanger Jewish lives worldwide. Even singer Aviv Geffen posted on social media that the filmmakers' work harms Israel, contrasting it with his own songs about fallen soldiers and victims of atrocities.

In parallel with the demand for the film's screening, the Cinema Council recommended to the Culture Minister the complete abolition of the scoring mechanism that provides government support to films participating in international festivals. Instead, they proposed a dedicated budget support track exclusively for films focusing on the heroism of IDF soldiers and Israel's conflicts. Minister Zohar welcomed these recommendations, announcing his intention to adopt them promptly, stating that international festivals "time and again have proven they wish to harm the State of Israel, and the country has no reason to fund films intended for success in those venues."

The Cinema Council explained these measures are intended to combat coordinated campaigns of defamation against Israel in international media and festivals. The controversy surrounding "NezA" continues to evolve, with further reactions expected from political and security officials in the coming days.