Story perspectives

Israel Revokes Citizenship of NAZA Documentary Co-Directors

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 2:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced revoking Israeli citizenship of documentary co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Documentary NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The film received a 25-minute standing ovation, the longest in Venice festival history.
Zohar called NAZA “shocking” and “vile,” accusing its creators of treason.
Co-director Yuval Abraham said critics attack the film without seeing it and urged Israelis to watch.

History

Historical Context

In 1975, Israel’s Knesset enacted a Citizenship Law amendment permitting revocation of citizenship for treason convictions, a measure originally aimed at security threats. The law enabled the 1986 prosecution of nuclear whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu, who received an 18-year prison term and a 30,000-shekel fine. Today, Culture Minister Miki Zohar invokes the same legal framework to strip documentary co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor of Israeli citizenship. The precedent suggests future artists risk statelessness, prompting international criticism and potential legal challenges before Israel’s Supreme Court in Jerusalem.

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Story summary

Culture Minister Miki Zohar announced revoking Israeli citizenship of documentary co-directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Documentary NAZA won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The film received a 25-minute standing ovation, the longest in Venice festival history.
Zohar called NAZA “shocking” and “vile,” accusing its creators of treason.
Co-director Yuval Abraham said critics attack the film without seeing it and urged Israelis to watch.

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