Filmmaker Eli Zinger Highlights Documentary's Role in Shaping Settlement Narrative

Eli Zinger, creator of the documentary series "HOMESH Project," shared insights in an interview with Channel 7 about his seven-year effort documenting the reestablishment of the West Bank settlement Homesh. He described the series not merely as a documentary but as a rare historical record of a settlement being rebuilt, comparing its significance to filming the early days of Birya. Speaking at the Katif Conference for National Responsibility in Beit El, Zinger emphasized that in today’s era, the battle for public consciousness is as crucial as the physical struggle on the ground.

Zinger criticized the national camp for insufficiently investing in promoting its historical narrative to the broader public, stressing the importance of controlling the "pen that writes history." He views works like his film as powerful tools for changing public perception and consciousness. When asked whether settlement construction should take precedence over filmmaking, he argued that both efforts complement each other, with media projects amplifying the settlers’ image and potentially having equal or greater influence.

He also called for increased investment in culture, media, and storytelling alongside other important causes, warning that without cultural and media expression of their values, the national camp risks losing influence. Addressing concerns about younger generations’ attention spans, Zinger rejected the notion that they lack patience for long content, noting many engage deeply with extended podcasts and films. On the question of objectivity in documentary filmmaking, he stated he does not aim to be a news reporter but rather presents reality from his worldview, dismissing the pursuit of objectivity as irrelevant in documentary art.