Israeli Journalist Slams "Nezah" Film as Manipulative and False Narrative

Neria Krauss, outgoing News 13 correspondent in the US, sharply criticized the American premiere of the Israeli film "Nezah" (N.Z.A.), which alleges war crimes by the IDF in Gaza. Screening at New York Film Festival in Manhattan, the film was presented to an American audience shortly before the October 7th remembrance events.

Krauss, who has lived in the US for years and is familiar with American political discourse, identified professional journalistic shortcomings in the film. She noted that interviewees offered general assessments and atmosphere descriptions without verifiable evidence. She specifically questioned the journalistic standards of director Yuval Abraham, who presented himself as an investigative journalist, arguing the film often fails to meet these standards.

Beyond translation errors in subtitles that amplified soldiers' statements, Krauss's main critique focused on the film's broader message, which she believes connects the current Gaza war to the legitimacy of Israel's existence. She described it as a manipulative construct that undermines the legitimacy of Zionism from its inception, using undated stories and general assessments to create a false narrative and flawed equations.

Krauss expressed concern over the film's portrayal of Israeli elites and the left, suggesting it implies that if left-leaning intelligence figures speak of Gazan deaths, it reflects on all of Israeli society. She also criticized the film's visual association of Tel Aviv, a city perceived as liberal, with genocide allegations, particularly its editing that juxtaposes images of the city's founding with the destruction in Gaza, implying a continuous historical pattern.

She connected the film's narrative to anti-Israel rhetoric she has encountered, such as chants like "From the river to the sea." While Abraham stated the film is for Israelis, Krauss felt Israelis were used as "scenery for further narratives." She also pointed out the lack of context regarding Hamas operatives and the events of October 7th, arguing that investigative journalism requires presenting a full story based on verified facts.

Despite her strong criticism, Krauss cautioned against personal attacks on the filmmakers, stating that while criticism is permissible, calls for violence or harm against them or their families are unacceptable.