Transcript [00:00] So, for more reaction, it's a pleasure [00:01] to welcome Yuval David, filmmaker, [00:03] director, actor, and activist joining us [00:06] now live from New York. Thank you so [00:08] much for your time. Your take, how [00:10] damaging is a documentary like this for [00:13] Israel, especially given it's made by [00:16] Israeli filmmakers? Some are accusing [00:18] them of treason, some calling it a blood [00:21] libel, some say this is just freedom of [00:24] expression. Your reaction, your [00:25] thoughts? [00:27] >> Well, firstly, thank you so much for [00:28] having me back on your show. It's always [00:30] great to see you as you do the [00:33] challenging task of trying to share [00:35] factual information. We're in an era of [00:38] narratives, narratives over facts, and [00:41] that's exactly what this film has [00:44] presented. I don't consider "Naza" [00:47] courageous filmmaking. I consider it [00:49] propaganda presented with the aesthetics [00:51] and prestige of calling it documentary [00:54] journalism. A documentary doesn't become [00:57] objective because Israelis made it, and [00:59] this is a [01:00] message I'm trying to share with so many [01:02] people outside of the Jewish and Israeli [01:05] echo echo chamber, that is. In fact, the [01:08] term Israelis accusing Israel, as in [01:11] quotes, gives anti-Israel propaganda [01:14] something extraordinarily valuable, a [01:16] Jewish Israeli stamp of authenticity. [01:19] But, this is not an authentic [01:21] documentary. It is not genuine, nor is [01:24] it truthful. These filmmakers aren't [01:26] simply documenting allegations, they've [01:30] told their audience the conclusion. They [01:32] describe Israel as responsible for [01:34] calculated mass killing, which is false. [01:37] That's an ideological thesis that they [01:39] presented through the language of [01:41] documentary. So, this is a very harmful [01:43] documentary, but they received this [01:45] beautiful standing ovation as if they [01:48] are heroes. They're not heroes, they are [01:50] people I openly condemn. [01:52] >> It certainly does speak volumes, a [01:54] standing ovation for 25 minutes in [01:58] Venice. [01:59] We wait to see the reaction. Many [02:02] contemplations right now about the next [02:05] moves out of Israel. Yuval David, stay [02:07] with us. We've got much more to discuss [02:10] because there's a development in the [02:13] entertainment world. Ed Sheeran has [02:15] finally responded to the saga over [02:18] Macklemore's controversial performance [02:21] in New Jersey earlier this month. The [02:23] rapper, whose real name is Benjamin [02:26] Haggerty, was the opening act for the [02:28] Loop Tour at the MetLife Stadium. He [02:31] sparked outrage in some circles after [02:34] his comments on stage calling out free [02:37] Palestine at two concerts and making [02:39] political speeches. Macklemore [02:41] confirming earlier in the week that he [02:43] had been cut from the tour writing in a [02:47] statement that the real victims are the [02:49] Palestinian people in Gaza. And a short [02:52] while ago, Ed Sheeran posting the [02:55] following on Instagram saying that he is [02:58] appalled by the conflict between Israel [03:01] and Palestine. The suffering and pain [03:03] caused on both sides is a human tragedy. [03:06] There are too many wars across the world [03:08] causing immeasurable pain, none of which [03:11] should be tolerated. Going on to say, [03:13] Macklemore asked to join his tour last [03:16] year and he agreed because he respects [03:18] him as an artist. Adding, as with all [03:22] his support acts, he agrees they play a [03:25] set list of their choosing. [03:29] Still with us, Yuval David. So, your [03:32] thoughts. Rapper Macklemore has been [03:34] dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour after [03:37] this pro-Palestinian stance on stage [03:40] earlier in the month. Plus, footage from [03:41] Gaza was shown on the big screen. What [03:44] do you make of the statement from Ed [03:46] Sheeran posting on Instagram just a [03:48] short while ago? [03:50] >> Well, I furrow my brow at the statement [03:53] Ed Sheeran made. It's obviously a very [03:55] safe statement that was manufactured by [03:59] Ed Sheeran and his PR team and his [04:01] managers to try to avoid and appease as [04:04] many people as possible. The problem [04:06] with appease appeasement is that if you [04:09] try to appease everybody, you're also [04:12] going to appease the people who are [04:13] doing something wrong. Macklemore [04:16] did and does something wrong. I [04:19] absolutely support the decision to [04:21] remove Macklemore from these [04:22] performances. Sure, freedom of speech [04:25] gives Macklemore the right to say what [04:26] he wants, but it does not give [04:28] Macklemore the right to somebody else's [04:31] stage and he was removed. Freedom of [04:34] speech belongs to everybody else, too. [04:37] Audiences, venues, promoters, and people [04:40] who decide that they do not want to [04:42] subsidize his activism. That's why he [04:45] was removed. He wants freedom to speak, [04:48] fine, but freedom of speech was never [04:50] meant freedom from criticism, boycotts, [04:53] or commercial consequences. So, he's not [04:55] being imprisoned, he's losing gigs. [04:59] That's the difference and that's [05:00] something very important to to recognize [05:03] in this situation. [05:05] >> We so appreciate your insights. [05:07] Interesting times indeed, Yuval David, [05:10] live from Washington. Appreciate you [05:12] being with us on the rundown. Thank you [05:13] so much. [05:14] >> Thank you for having me on.
MACKLEMORE, NAZA, AND THE PROPAGANDA WAR AGAINST ISRAEL.
I joined i24NEWS’ The Rundown @i24NEWS_EN today for a conversation about something much bigger than a musician or a film: how culture, entertainment, and media are being used to shape public opinion about Israel, Zionism, and the Jewish people.
We discussed Macklemore’s escalating anti-Israel and anti-Zionist activism, the controversy surrounding Naza, and what happens when propaganda and ideological narratives are packaged as entertainment, art, or activism — then amplified to millions of people as though they are objective truth.
My position is clear: criticism of Israel is legitimate. Obsessive demonization, double standards, historical distortion, and the vilification of Zionism and Jewish self-determination are something else entirely.
And free speech works both ways.
Artists can say what they want. Filmmakers can make what they want. Audiences, venues, festivals, journalists, Jews, Zionists, and our allies can scrutinize it, challenge it, expose falsehoods, withdraw support, and refuse to reward bigotry masquerading as activism.
The answer to propaganda cannot be silence.
More Jews, Zionists, Israelis, and allies need to understand the information battlefield we are in — and get much better at fighting on it. Know the facts. Tell our stories. Challenge misinformation and disinformation. Stop surrendering cultural spaces to people determined to define Israel and the Jewish people for us.
Watch my full conversation on i24NEWS’ The Rundown.
Live proudly. Speak boldly. Fight forward. 🇮🇱✡️🇺🇸
