IDA condemns Israeli authorities’ threats against NAZA directors — Dawn
The International Documentary Association (IDA) has condemned a “public campaign of intimidation” against Israeli filmmakers Yuval Avraham and Rachel Szor, who made the documentary NAZA. Dawn reports that the IDA published a letter supporting the film’s creators, whom, according to the association, were accused of treason.
Citizenship statements
In its letter, the IDA stated that after NAZA won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival, Israeli officials began acting against the directors. According to the association, the culture minister accused them of treason and sought to strip them of citizenship.
Nearly a week before the letter was published, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government would seek legislation to revoke the citizenship of those who “slander” or “disgrace” Israeli military personnel or the state. The IDA also pointed to announced bills on a twentyfold increase in damages in defamation cases.
The association said that following the officials’ statements, the directors were called “traitors” in graffiti, while protests took place outside Szor’s parents’ home.
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IDA’s position
The IDA stressed that disagreement with a film’s content should not put its creators in danger. The association noted that the Israeli military disputes the film’s account, but drew attention to Israel’s obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights regarding freedom of expression.
The organization called on the Israeli government to withdraw threats to strip Avraham and Szor of citizenship, respect their right not to disclose confidential sources, and abandon changes to state film funding which, in the IDA’s assessment, would punish creators of critical works. At the time of publication, the letter had been signed by nearly 300 people, including actors Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem and directors Alex Gibney and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
According to the description in the article, NAZA covers the Israeli military’s use of artificial intelligence. The film’s title derives from an Israeli intelligence euphemism for the expected number of civilian casualties from an airstrike. After its theatrical run, the film is to be shown for free on The Guardian website in November.
