Israeli ministers call for citizenship revocation of filmmakers behind NAZA

Israeli Minister of Culture Miki Zohar has announced plans to initiate proceedings to revoke the Israeli citizenship of filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. The move follows the duo's receipt of the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival on September 12, 2026, for their documentary titled "NAZA".

Minister Zohar publicly accused the filmmakers of "treason against the state," claiming they sought to undermine their homeland to gain favor with global antisemites. The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from other high-ranking officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who publicly denounced the filmmakers on the social media platform X, labeling them an embarrassment to the nation and calling for them to leave the country.

This incident highlights ongoing internal tensions within the Israeli government regarding the international portrayal of the state by its citizens. While the ministers have expressed clear intent to pursue legal repercussions, no formal court proceedings have been confirmed as of yet beyond the public statements made by government officials on social media.