Netanyahu pushes to strip citizenship of IDF critics after "NAZA" doc premieres
A documentary film has sparked a severe reaction from Israel's top officials. Per Variety, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a new law following the Venice Film Festival premiere of "NAZA."
He said the law would remove citizenship from "anyone who slanders IDF soldiers." In a video posted online, he added that such a person's "place is not among us." Netanyahu also mentioned a separate proposal to increase potential defamation penalties by twenty times.
The film "NAZA" was co-directed by Israeli citizens Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. Its description states it reveals the mechanisms of Israel's military actions in Gaza. It includes testimony from two dozen former members of Israeli intelligence and the armed forces.
The documentary won a special jury prize at Venice and was reportedly met with a record-long standing ovation.
Netanyahu's remarks follow those of Culture Minister Miki Zohar. Zohar had previously threatened to revoke the citizenship of the film's directors, calling their work "shocking" and an act of "betrayal" against Israel.
