Culture Minister Demands Cinemas Ban Anti-Israel Film 'Nez'a'

Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar has called on cinema managers and cinematheques across Israel to refuse to screen the film "Nez'a," which he described as anti-Israel. In a letter sent Thursday, Zohar asserted that the film disseminates serious falsehoods against the State of Israel and the IDF, urging managers to prevent its screening in any capacity, whether paid or free.

Zohar also requested that venues not be rented out or made available to any external entity for the film's screening, stating explicitly that it should "not be allowed under any circumstances." He claimed the IDF has refuted the allegations made against it in the film, labeling them as false and based on unverifiable anonymous sources. The minister further contended that the film internationally promotes claims attributing deliberate civilian killings to Israel, which he characterized as "completely false."

Connecting his appeal to the three-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks, Zohar wrote that Israel and its citizens are still fighting for their security against enemies seeking to harm them on the battlefield and undermine Israel's legitimacy to defend itself. He emphasized that IDF soldiers and commanders are on the front lines protecting the nation's citizens.

Against this backdrop, the minister stated that cultural institutions bear a "special public responsibility not to provide a platform for the dissemination of claims that harm our soldiers and our state." Addressing freedom of expression, Zohar noted, "Freedom of creation and freedom of expression are important values in Israeli society, but they do not mean that every cultural institution is obligated to provide its stage for every creation." He added this is particularly true when, according to him, the falsehood is intended to damage Israel's international reputation. Zohar concluded his letter with a direct plea for "public responsibility" in preventing the film's screening.