Ofer Cassif rejects Netanyahu's demand to prosecute the NAZA participants
Ofer CassifMember of the Knesset for Hadash-Ta'al, in a post on his X account
Hadash-Ta'al lawmaker Ofer Cassif, replying to a screenshot of Netanyahu's demand, accused Netanyahu of smearing the filmmakers and of accusing artists of security offenses, and said it was Netanyahu who belonged in prison.
“You, a serial pathological liar, dare to smear creators who are faithful to the truth with lies and defamation? (Translated from Hebrew. Original: אתה – שקרן פתולוגי סדרתי – מעז להכפיש יוצרים הנאמנים לאמת בשקר ודיבה?)”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Should Israel investigate and prosecute those who took part in the film NAZA?
On October 11, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet Director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara demanding that they act urgently to identify everyone involved in or appearing in the documentary NAZA, open a criminal investigation for information-security offenses, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests, and put those involved on trial. The film, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, presents testimony from 24 soldiers of the IDF's Unit 8200 intelligence unit about the military's conduct in the Gaza war, and won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival in September. Netanyahu called it false and defamatory. In September, Zamir ordered military lawyers to examine legal measures against those involved, and the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Israeli authorities to end threats of legal action against the filmmakers. The dispute is over whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made the film or spoke in it.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Post in Hebrew on Cassif's own X account. It attaches a screenshot of Netanyahu's post demanding the investigation.
Before the quotation
Cassif posted about two and a half hours after Netanyahu's post demanding the investigation, attaching a screenshot of it. His post opens by asking (translation) whether Netanyahu is accusing artists of security offenses.
After the quotation
The post goes on to accuse Netanyahu of war crimes, says his place is in prison and urges people to vote against the governing coalition.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case asks whether Israel should investigate and prosecute the people who made NAZA or appeared in it, as Netanyahu demanded on October 11. Replying to Netanyahu's demand, Cassif rejects the accusation that the people behind the film committed security offenses and accuses Netanyahu of smearing creators who are faithful to the truth. That opposes investigating and prosecuting them, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization; it loses because he attacks the demand for prosecution itself.
- Recorded on
- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseNetanyahu demands that the participants in NAZA be investigated and put on trial
“I demand that the Chief of Staff, the head of the Shin Bet and the Attorney General open a comprehensive investigation against the participants in the film "NAZA" and put them on trial for serious information-security offenses, criminal defamation and harm to Israel's diplomatic and security interests. (Translated from Hebrew. Original: אני דורש מהרמטכ״ל, מראש השב״כ ומהיועמ״שית לפתוח בחקירה מקיפה כנגד המשתתפים בסרט ״נז״א״ ולהעמיד אותם לדין בגין עבירות ביטחון מידע חמורות, הוצאת דיבה פלילית ופגיעה באינטרסים מדיניים וביטחוניים של ישראל.)”Read statement
CPJ says legal threats against the NAZA filmmakers are "a warning to journalists and sources"
Committee to Protect Journalists
“These threats cannot be dismissed as political rhetoric. They are a warning to journalists and sources about the potential consequences of reporting critically on powerful institutions”Read statement
IDF chief Eyal Zamir says the film must be confronted with "every tool at our disposal"
“Such an attempt must be confronted decisively, using every tool at our disposal—legal, command, and public diplomacy.”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Ofer Cassif rejects Netanyahu's demand to prosecute the NAZA participants
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/5569-hadash-ta-al-lawmaker-ofer-cassif-replying-to
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Ofer Cassif rejects Netanyahu's demand to prosecute the NAZA participants". First published: 2026-10-11. Last updated: 2026-10-11. https://disputeindex.com/events/5569-hadash-ta-al-lawmaker-ofer-cassif-replying-to