Want to win at a film festival? Just paint Israel as the villain!

These days, it’s so easy to get recognition for your film if the plot involves Israel as the bad guy. That’s how the film, “Naza” did it!  

Winning the coveted honor, co-writers and directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor proudly received the distinction of the prestigious “Special Jury Prize,” in the main competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

The 2026 film, which supposes to undertake the investigation of the Gaza War, did so by interviewing 24 anonymous Israeli soldiers and intelligence insiders, all of whom made damning allegations against the way the war was carried out by their native country.

Of course, while it is the prerogative of each citizen to opine on how they believe the response to October 7 was conducted, for the sake of credibility, it would be helpful to also know if any of those voices have a particular political or social agenda, not to mention if they also fit in the category of disgruntled military personnel who, for whatever reason, are seeking revenge.

But none of that is disclosed, and with good reason. Nowadays, background and context can end up seriously undermining the message that is being put forth, and, when it comes to Israel, that would be way too counterproductive for her detractors.

By making the comparison between the well-known and highly acclaimed series, Fauda to this new documentary, a Jerusalem Post editorial offers the important contrast between the self-criticism baked into the Fauda series, that presents evidence, then judged by the viewer, as opposed to a very one-sided approach of Naza, that’s neither scrutinized nor challenged.

“Self-criticism has never been absent from Israeli culture and Fauda itself is proof. The series has spent years showing Israeli operatives as brave, impulsive, traumatized and sometimes disastrously wrong. Serious art can expose wounds without pretending that one moral interpretation explains every decision made under fire. Fauda has never called for viewers to believe every Israeli action is justified. It lets them decide.”

All this is juxtaposed against Naza, “built around interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel whose identities are concealed, making grave allegations, including claims that mass civilian deaths were factored into military operations.”

But for agenda-driven filmmakers, not allowing the audience to know the critical details of what is behind painting Israel as the villain, leaves everyone in the dark theatre of suspicion. Because if the incriminating claims of 24 are justified and warranted, why wouldn’t there be some evidence to support the legitimacy of what hundreds of thousands of other Israeli soldiers apparently do not see?

Is it possible that 450,000 of our sons, daughters, grandchildren, fathers and brothers, who make up the IDF’s active soldiers and reservists, are unaware that their country is guilty of fighting an immoral and unjust war, using methods that violate international standards?

Any rational thinker would come to the conclusion that if such a thing was true, there is no possible way that nearly half a million people would not come forward and, likewise, say something.

But, as in every segment of society, there are apologists and self-loathers who, for lack of real convictions and the ability to properly discern right from wrong, including Jews who vote for anti-Zionist candidates, and, in this case, Israeli soldiers, willing to smear their own military. But why?

That is what we don’t know and likely will never know. And that is the reason some of us are suspicious of a film that pretends to support the truth of a much-maligned war which has been labeled a genocide, perpetrated by Israel, rather than what it was – the legitimate and justified response to the invasion of terrorists upon a sovereign country, killing innocent civilians.

Sadly, the days of unavoidable battles to protect one’s country is no longer an understood necessity. Instead, the act of reciprocal aggression is often met with grave disapproval and disgust, especially when a political agenda is attached to the conflict.

Israel is the perfect fall guy in this case. The thought of the Jewish people going to war to defend themselves is already anathema to those who hate them. But add to that the most sophisticated, cutting-edge weapons, along with the help of a super power that comprehends the dangers posed to all mankind, and the comparison becomes a David and Goliath contest – with little David being the bloodthirsty terrorists who barbarically butchered young children, mothers and their babies. 

That is the absurdity of this picture. The victim morphs into the bully, while the instigator devolves into the ultimate underdog. If ever there was a lopsided and illogical portrayal of the two sides, this is it!

But Naza fits nicely into a global audience that is primed to believe the worst about Israel. Why would they think to challenge what was presented to them when they’ve already pre-determined the guilt of the Jewish state?

As the newspaper editorial stated, Yuval Abraham, in his acceptance speech, “spoke in precisely moral terms, referring to crimes committed by Israel, arguing that outside pressure would be needed for accountability.”

Who would doubt the word of an Israeli filmmaker, so willing to vilify his country and their military, accusing them of mass killings? By his reckoning, there actually isn’t need for a trial or investigation. Israel did it, and now there should be the ensuing recognition of sins and punishment that fits the crime.

But, once again, we all have to ask ourselves how is it that nearly half a million Israelis are blind, indifferent or simply unaware of war heinous crimes which are allegedly taking place right under their noses?

Are we to believe that all of them are lacking a conscience, a heart and moral acuity that would assist them in discerning the difference between savage cruelty, that seeks to obliterate a population, and the waging of war for the sake of protecting one’s people who are being brutally attacked without reason?

If you think about it, Naza is the culmination of what could not be accomplished by the Criminal Court at the Hague. In its pitiful attempt to irrevocably injure the Jewish homeland, they failed miserably at landing the death blow, so now an obscure film, written and vocalized by shameful Israelis is attempting to follow through.

Lucky for us, that 450,000 proud Israeli soldiers and reservists have the last word on this!