Former News 13 US Correspondent Criticizes "NezA" Film

Neria Kraus, formerly a News 13 correspondent in the United States, viewed the premiere of the documentary "NezA" in New York and has issued a strong critique of its journalistic standards and messaging. The screening took place at Lincoln Center as part of the New York Film Festival, before an American audience.

Kraus stated that while the film has value in its investigation and critique, it suffers from journalistic shortcomings. She specifically pointed to issues with the portrayal of atmosphere and general assessments by interviewees, which she argued are difficult to verify or document. "Yuval Avraham presented himself on stage tonight as an investigative journalist, meaning he is supposed to adhere to journalistic standards, but the film in many instances does not meet them on screen," Kraus wrote.

She also noted translation errors in the subtitles that she felt made some soldiers' statements harsher. More significantly, Kraus expressed concern that the film creates a troubling connection between the war in Gaza and the legitimacy of Israel's existence. "In my view, the film creates a false narrative and erroneous equations that undermine the legitimacy of the Zionist enterprise from its inception, discrediting Israelis based on stories that the vast majority lack dates or concrete information, and include many general assessments from interviewees," she wrote.

Kraus believes the film appeals to the antisemitic left and the far-right using their language and terms. "NezA presents difficult testimonies, there is real value in investigating and critiquing, and it is desirable that we know how to do it. However, in this film, the result is that it manipulatively gives a platform and legitimacy to arguments against the existence of the State of Israel and Israeli lives in the Land of Israel," she stated. She concluded that the film effectively uses cinematic tools and soldiers' stories to delegitimize the establishment and existence of Israel as a genocidal event, leading viewers to conclude that "the sin is ancient and the whole tree is poisoned."

Kraus also highlighted what she felt was missing from the film, including context about October 7th and the identities of Hamas operatives. She reiterated that Avraham's self-definition as an investigative journalist necessitates a higher standard than a purely documentary work, criticizing the selective presentation of information that reconstructs a narrative rather than presenting a complete story with verified facts.