Israeli Culture Minister calls for investigation into controversial ‘NAZA’ filmmakers

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Israeli Culture Minister Gideon Sa'ar has initiated an official investigation into the filmmakers behind the controversial documentary "NAZA," accusing them of committing acts of treason against the state. In his statement, the minister emphasized that he immediately contacted the head of Shin Bet to inquire how the filmmakers obtained their materials, suggesting that some information may have originated from Hamas or been provided by soldiers who are legally prohibited from disclosing such details. He argued that these actions constitute a breach of loyalty to Israel, which under Section 11 of the Citizenship Law, justifies revoking their citizenship and potentially leading to imprisonment if the investigation uncovers further evidence of treason. The documentary, which received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, has sparked significant political turmoil in Israel despite not yet being screened domestically. The film presents a thesis alleging that Israel is committing genocide, a claim the minister believes is false and damaging to the nation's integrity. Sa'ar expressed determination to prove that the creators violated their duty to the state, noting that while they may have received accolades abroad, their work slanders Israel and undermines its democratic standing. The government insists that such serious allegations must be thoroughly examined to determine the source of the information and the extent of the harm caused to the country's reputation. In response to these developments, Yaki Diane, a former Israeli council member in Los Angeles, joined the discussion to offer her perspective on the situation. She acknowledged that the filmmakers received praise for their anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli narrative, which she believes validates their biases rather than providing objective journalism. While agreeing that the documentary contains false claims, she argued that revoking citizenship might be a mistake because it could further damage Israel's image as a democracy that protects freedom of speech. Instead, she suggested that the appropriate legal recourse is to sue the filmmakers for slander, citing Israeli law which allows for lawsuits when individuals make false accusations against others with malicious intent. The debate highlights the tension between artistic expression and national security concerns within the current political climate. Diane emphasized that no Western democracy tolerates such a high ratio of terrorists and individuals spreading falsehoods without consequence, implying that legal action through slander suits is the correct path rather than citizenship revocation. She maintained that Israel must respond to the damaging claims made in the film by addressing each question and refuting the specific allegations presented. Ultimately, both the minister and the guest agree that the filmmakers have caused significant harm to the state, but they differ on the severity of the punishment, with the minister pushing for criminal investigation and potential imprisonment while Diane advocates for civil litigation to correct the record and protect Israel's reputation.

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I have already begun taking action on this. I mean began taking action today by contacting the head of the Shinbet and asking him to investigate the matter. I think these two committed an act of treason. I think that once it's determined how they obtained the materials they acquired, if they did obtain materials and the falsehood contained in those materials, it may even turn out that some of the information came from the Hamas terrorist organization. I have asked for that to be investigated as well as well as if they received it from soldiers who are not permitted to report or disclose certain things. Taken together, all of these things amount to acts of treason. These creators essentially acted in a way that we would describe as a breach of loyalty to the state of Israel and that is something that justifies revoking their citizenship. I am determined to continue acting on this issue. I believe these two cannot remain Israeli citizens and it is very possible that if a Shinbet investigation takes place following my request of course even more serious things will be uncovered. It may be that these two should actually be sitting in prison. That is something we will ask to have examined. Section 11 of Israel citizenship law states that someone who breaches their loyalty to the state of Israel can lose their citizenship. Of course, we need to prove that they did so. And I think there is a way to prove it. After a Shinbet investigation, if and when my request is accepted, I assume it will be proven that they breached their loyalty. And it could even be more serious than that. That they apparently committed an act of treason against the state. That is my assessment and I hope the matter will be investigated. >> Still in studio, Yaki Diane, former Israeli council in Los Angeles. And joining us now, senior correspondent Owen Alterman. So a standing ovation in Venice for this documentary called Naza. Important to outline that that means collateral damage. It's yet to be screened in Israel, but the political storm unfolds. Yucky, your take on what we've just heard. >> Listen, this is not surprising that they got standing ovation because on all the anti-semites and the anti-Israelis that blaming Israeli for Israel and for genocide for them, it was like a um that was proving their teases. And what those and I heard the minister saying that he wants to revoke their citizenship which I believe would be a mistake because eventually u you know Israel is being pictured as a democracy and people have the freedom of speech but what they did is slandering Israel. Uh no doubt they did a a terrible journalistic work because they came with this thesis that Israel is creating some kind of a genocide. They brought um sporadically people that I don't know if they are soldiers. Yes or no. they gave uh some kind of a testimony which most of what I saw that came out are a bunch of lines and if you do such a thing there is a close in the Israeli law in which if you slander someone you can be sued for that because if I would blame you Benita for being uh uh stealing something and I would bring 10 people you would be definitely 10 people that would give some kind of a testimony you would bet definitely sue me. So I think they should be definitely sued for slander. Uh this is undone what they have done. uh and I think it it's creating a a lot of damage uh to the state of Israel and Israel has to uh answer uh accordingly has to uh rebuke all those claims that appears in this movie and they have to answer all the questions that come there and uh we should continue uh um uh doing what we are doing because there is no country no democracy no western democracy that is fighting whether it's the US, Great Britain, France and I can go on and on and on that has such such a ratio of uh of uh between terrorists and and people that haven't done uh things. So I think that those people that did that should be definitely sued for slander.