Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar Vows to Revoke Citizenship of 'NAZA' Documentary Filmmakers Over 'Treason'

Israeli Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar said on Monday, September 14, 2026 that he would move to revoke the Israeli citizenship of 'NAZA' filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, days after their documentary on the IDF's 'Lavender' AI targeting system received a record-length ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere and won the festival's Special Jury Prize. Zohar called the film 'vile' and accused the directors of damaging Israel's image 'just to get applause from antisemites around the world,' describing their actions as 'treason against the state.' Under Israeli law, a minister has no unilateral power to strip citizenship; revocation on disloyalty grounds requires a formal process involving the interior minister and the courts, which had not been initiated at time of reporting. Other Israeli officials, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, had separately denounced the film as a 'blood libel.'