‘NAZA’: More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers sign petition backing directors after citizenship threats

More than 1,500 Israeli filmmakers and other film-industry figures have signed a petition supporting NAZA directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, days after Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to seek the revocation of their citizenship. The petition rejects accusations that the filmmakers sought to damage Israel’s reputation and condemns what its signatories describe as an escalating campaign of vilification and threats against the pair.

Among the signatories are prominent Israeli filmmakers including Nadav Lapid, Hagai Levi, Shlomi Elkabetz, Liran Atzmor, Orna Ben Dor, Netalie Braun and Rani Blair. The petition calls on supporters of freedom of expression and artistic freedom to stand with Abraham and Szor, while warning that the rhetoric directed at them could create a physical threat to their safety.