AGP Executive Report

Pop Culture Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour imploded after rapper Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestinian onstage remarks, and now the exodus is total: Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and the backing band Beoga have all quit the remaining North American dates, while Sheeran insists the call wasn’t his. Celebrity Backlash: Sheeran’s Instagram has been flooded with hostile comments and follower losses as Greta Thunberg and others pile in online. Arts in Israel: A new immersive “We Shall Rise” October 7 art installation has landed on a Tel Aviv rooftop, blending photography and poetry with free entry for soldiers. Local Governance/Religion: Israel’s High Holidays police deployment ramps up nationwide for the season. Culture & Controversy: Israel’s culture minister is pushing for Shin Bet scrutiny tied to the film “NAZA,” as the Gaza documentary continues to spark legal and political fights. Sports & Protest: Ireland’s SIPTU union backs an RTÉ staff boycott of UEFA Nations League matches involving Israel.

NAZA Backlash in Israel: Forty-three Israeli human rights and equality groups rallied behind NAZA filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after threats following the doc’s Venice Film Festival win, saying attempts to silence creators before a full release are an attack on free expression. Pop Culture Fallout: Ed Sheeran says Macklemore’s removal from his US “Loop” tour wasn’t his call—venues and the promoter made the decision after “Free Palestine” remarks at MetLife Stadium—yet the controversy snowballed as Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga quit in solidarity, leaving the tour without openers. Sports Spotlight: Maccabi Tel Aviv kept their perfect start alive with a 4-1 win over Hapoel Beersheba, setting up a Tel Aviv derby next. Tech & Industry: Sokkia showcased new surveying tech at INTERGEO 2026, including GNSS receivers and a “Shared Reality” reality-capture lineup. Local Interest: Jerusalem’s new light rail near Malha Mall saw two people injured after a hit-and-run incident.

NAZA Backlash in Israel: Co-director Yuval Abraham says he fears he “won’t be able to return” after the Venice-winning Gaza documentary sparked a storm of criticism, with Israeli officials pushing for legal action and even citizenship revocation. Music & Politics Collide: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he had Macklemore removed from Ed Sheeran’s Gillette Stadium shows over “hate speech” concerns tied to the rapper’s “Free Palestine” onstage remarks—while Macklemore insists the decision followed talks with Sheeran’s team. Local Culture Industry Move: Yoav Gross Productions hired Emmy-winning exec Ariel Weisbrod as VP of Content & Partnerships to expand international co-productions. Film Festival Win: Kosovo director Visar Morina’s “Shame and Money” took top honors at PriFest, with acting awards for Astrit Kabashi and Ujkan Hysaj. Sports & Entertainment: James Tavernier celebrates his Maccabi Tel Aviv derby win in Israel after signing a one-year deal. Regional Spotlight: Malaysia and the Maldives reaffirmed solidarity with Palestine, backing self-determination and an independent state.

Venice Film Festival Fallout: Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar says he’ll seek to revoke citizenship of NAZA directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after the Gaza war documentary won the Venice Special Jury Prize and drew a near-25-minute standing ovation—while Israeli filmmakers and supporters rally behind the creators, arguing for artistic freedom amid an escalating political backlash. Tour Politics, Pop Culture: Rapper Macklemore was removed as Ed Sheeran’s opening act on the U.S. Loop Tour after onstage “Free Palestine” remarks at MetLife Stadium; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft publicly backed the move, saying it would “cross the line” on hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric. Local Arts & Community: Nova massacre survivor Shye Klein turned trauma into an art-driven economic lifeline for other survivors, curating the Nova Collection. Heritage & Faith: Greece’s parliament approved a 10-year heritage cooperation pact with the Jerusalem Patriarchate, funding conservation and digitization of religious treasures. Humanitarian Arts Adjacent: WHO says it will halt diesel supplies to 20+ Gaza hospitals from Sept. 19 due to funding shortfalls.

Venice Film Festival Fallout: Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar says he will seek to revoke the citizenship of NAZA directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor after the Gaza documentary won the Venice Film Festival’s Special Jury Prize, calling it “treason” and “self-hatred,” while the IDF rejects the film’s claims about AI-assisted targeting and disputed civilian-death figures. Arts & Screen Spotlight: The festival also crowned Danish drama Woman Unknown with the Golden Lion, and John Malkovich won Best Actor for Wild Horse Nine—both adding fresh awards-season buzz. Music, Memory & Mental Health: Nova festival survivors and relatives met in Tel Aviv Port for “Maintaining the Balance,” a large community conference linking trauma, substance use, and mental health. Security & Holidays: The IDF arrested a Hebron-area suspect planning a Rosh Hashanah shooting, as police prepare major High Holidays deployments nationwide. Dance Season Preview: Ballets de Monte-Carlo announced its 2026/2027 season, led by Jean-Christophe Maillot, with major revivals and collaborations.

Venice Film Festival: May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown won the Golden Lion, while John Malkovich took best actor for Wild Horse Nine—and the spotlight stayed on Gaza-focused cinema as Israeli documentary NAZA earned a special jury prize after a record 25-minute standing ovation. Gaza on screen: NAZA’s director says the team intends to distribute the film widely in Israel, despite backlash from Israeli politicians and public figures over its claims about IDF conduct. Streaming buzz: Fauda Season 5 landed on Netflix and surged across the Middle East, with episodes tied to Oct. 7 drawing fresh debate. Culture & identity: A new piece looks at how politics invades art at the Venice Biennale, while another highlights contemporary Jewish art in Jerusalem’s Biennale exploring trauma and healing post–Oct. 7. Tech & work: An Israeli-American AI scheduling tool is blamed for worsening conditions for interpreters at LanguageLine Solutions. Sports (local angle): Cowboys vs. Giants Sunday Night Football headlines include Malik Nabers’ return and Israel Abanikanda’s roster call-up.

Venice Film Festival: May el-Toukhy’s postwar drama “Woman Unknown” won the Golden Lion, with Mathilde Arcel taking Best Actress; John Malkovich won Best Actor for “Wild Horse Nine,” sending a video message from Montreal. Gaza on screen: Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s documentary “NAZA” won the Venice Special Jury Prize, built from interviews with 24 Israeli officers and framed around alleged AI-assisted targeting of civilians. Jerusalem Biennale: The 2026 edition opens Sept. 24 with “De Profundis,” focusing on collective trauma and healing after Oct. 7, featuring 250+ artists across 42 exhibitions in Jerusalem. Local culture & community: Jerusalem’s food rescuers keep turning leftovers into lifelines, spotlighting how artful reuse and volunteer networks are feeding people. Sports (Israel-linked): Israeli developer Meni Benish is behind “Trump Tower Tbilisi,” while Israeli athletes and teams continue to pop up across the week’s sports coverage. Regional flashpoints: Israeli forces advanced into northern Quneitra/Syria’s Quneitra countryside, as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen’s Red Sea routes keep escalating.

Venice Film Festival: May el-Toukhy’s postwar drama “Woman Unknown” won the Golden Lion, with Mathilde Arcel taking Best Actress; John Malkovich also picked up Best Actor for “Wild Horse Nine,” while Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love” earned the Silver Lion and Israeli-made Gaza documentary “NAZA” won a special jury prize after a record 25-minute standing ovation. Israeli Arts & Culture: “NAZA” is framed as a must-see for Israelis, with filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor spotlighting how remote Israeli intelligence shaped the targeting of homes. Self-Defense & Fitness: Krav Maga Nigeria launched its first Lagos Island seminar, bringing Israeli-developed practical self-defense training to local martial artists and fitness enthusiasts. Parenting & Tech: Israel’s AI conversation gets a practical angle as guidance urges age-based, supervised use of generative AI at home. Sports & Entertainment: iQFOiL World Championships in Weymouth crowned Tamar Steinberg and Luuc van Opzeeland as world champions. Opinion/Politics: A fresh debate flares over Europe’s shifting stance toward Jews and where they may live, echoing older expulsions and new restrictions.

Venice Film Festival: Israeli documentary “NAZA” (Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor) earned a record 25-minute standing ovation at its premiere, with critics calling it an urgent gut-punch about AI-powered mass killing in Gaza, based on testimony from 24 Israeli whistleblowers. Arts & Culture: The festival also spotlights Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy “Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich, as Venice prepares to hand out top awards Saturday. Israel-Lebanon Front: Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun made a rare visit to Nabatieh near Ali al-Taher Hill as fears of renewed Israeli strikes grow, following claims of Hezbollah tunnel destruction despite a June ceasefire framework. Film & Local Screen: Avi Nesher’s “Our Loves” heads to TIFF next week, premiering Sept. 13 before opening in Haifa and hitting Israeli theaters Oct. 15. Music & Pop Culture: Pink doubled down in the Macklemore/“free Palestine” controversy, saying a repost and memes “said things in words I didn’t write,” while reiterating her stance on Palestinians’ dignity.

Venice Film Festival Buzz: Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s Gaza documentary “NAZA” just set a new festival record with a 24.5-minute standing ovation, with Palestinian flags waving in Sala Grande. Culture & Conflict: The film’s premise—Israeli “systems” behind mass killing in Gaza—keeps turning the festival into a flashpoint, with major outlets clocking the applause at nearly 25 minutes. Music & Backlash: Pop star Pink breaks her silence on the Macklemore/Ed Sheeran “Free Palestine” controversy, insisting she’ll keep speaking out despite being labeled the villain. Diplomacy Fallout: UK-Israel tensions deepen after London sanctions on West Bank settlements, with Israel moving to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and restrict entry for MPs. Local Arts Calendar: Jerusalem Cinematheque and other High Holiday–season events continue to draw crowds, with listings noting possible postponements due to security. Rosh Hashanah Travel: Hamsa Nomads spotlights kosher-friendly retreats and community-building for Jewish travelers ahead of the new year.

Venice Film Festival Spotlight: Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s Gaza documentary “NAZA” drew a record-breaking 25-minute standing ovation, built on interviews with 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers describing AI-assisted targeting and civilian harm. Local Arts & Culture: Israel’s “Tell Me Everything” won Best Picture at the Ophir Awards and is set as the country’s Oscar submission, keeping the spotlight on homegrown cinema. Sports Diplomacy: Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides welcomed Olympiacos ahead of a Nicosia tournament featuring Red Star, Aris and Maccabi Tel Aviv, framing stadium upgrades as investment in the next generation. Public Art & Heritage: The Bayeux Tapestry’s British Museum run faces renewed scrutiny over sponsor Igor Tulchinsky’s ties to the IDF, as the exhibition opens to visitors in London. Media & Memory: As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 unfolds, coverage focuses on how the day reshaped culture and politics—and how remembrance is taught and debated. International Attention on Israel: Hundreds protested outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok, urging foreigners to respect Thai laws amid high-profile complaints about Israeli tourists.

Venice Film Festival: NAZA, a new Gaza documentary by Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, drew a record 25-minute standing ovation at the Lido, with the film based on testimony from 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel and Israel’s military rejecting the claims. High Holidays in NYC: A practical guide to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and celebrations across New York City is out, with options ranging from traditional synagogue worship to music, meals, and family programming. Community & Culture: In Washington Heights, Rabbi Liron Rogovsky was installed as the fifth rabbi of K’hal Adath Jeshurun in a Hachtarah ceremony. Arts & Entertainment: TIFF is leaning harder into indie premieres to pull in younger audiences, as big studio titles take a back seat. Israel in the spotlight abroad: Hundreds protested outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok, demanding Israeli visitors respect Thai laws and culture. Food & Heritage: A look at why Israel’s beehives are producing less honey, tied to the history of Kibbutz Yad Mordechai. Sports: Manchester United opened their Champions League league phase with a 4-0 win over newcomers Sabah.

{“Body”:”Venice Film Festival: Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor have brought their new documentary NAZA to the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, following their Oscar-winning No Other Land. The film, described as a hybrid of documentary and narrative fiction, draws on interviews with 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers and alleges that surveillance and targeting systems in Gaza can lead to strikes on family homes, with the acronym “NAZA” tied to expected civilian deaths. Arts & Culture: The festival also features The Road to Jericho, Amos Gitai’s latest work, in which Bollywood actress and producer Niharica Raizada debuted her banner Raizada Entertainments at Venice. Hollywood in Israel: John Malkovich has canceled a planned Tel Aviv performance of The Music Critic after a promoter-linked press release attributed remarks to him that he says he never made, calling the publication “unacceptable and untenable.” Music & Politics: A resurfaced clip from an Ed Sheeran show has reignited debate around Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks, while Susan Sarandon says Hollywood agencies have continued to take roles away from her over her Gaza stance, even as she received an eight-minute ovation in Venice. Local Life & Travel: As Israelis head into the high holidays, one report says privately owned vacation apartments are increasingly replacing hotels and short-term rentals, with owners using compact second homes for weekend escapes.”}

Israeli Cinema Spotlight: Moshe Rosenthal’s “Tell Me Everything” swept the Ophir Awards, winning Best Picture and 10 trophies total, and now becomes Israel’s Oscar Best International Feature submission. Streaming & Pop Culture: Netflix’s “Fauda” returns with Season 5, ending in a cemetery funeral as the series leans even harder into character-driven revenge after Oct. 7. Film Festival Buzz: The Haifa International Film Festival (Sept. 26–Oct. 3) unveiled an international lineup headlined by Danny Boyle, Nanni Moretti, François Ozon, Lukas Dhont, Olivier Assayas and more. Diplomacy Meets Protest: Israel opened its first embassy in Slovenia in Ljubljana, with thousands protesting outside as ties thaw and European governments tighten pressure over West Bank and Gaza policy. Arts, Music & Backlash: Azealia Banks is set for a third Tel Aviv concert (Oct. 8), while Boy George issued an anxious statement after escalating Israel-Palestine controversy. Culture & Controversy: Noa Kirel’s “Love Song” video drew criticism from young Israeli fans for graphic, blood-soaked imagery.

Diplomatic Fallout: Israel ordered the UK to close its East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days and strip British diplomats of status, after Britain moved to sanction West Bank settlements—Britain’s FM Ed Miliband said he “regretted” the step. Middle East Escalation: Iran hit US targets around the Strait of Hormuz and struck a Jordan base in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian oil tankers; oil prices pushed toward $100 as the standoff deepens. Pre-Military Program: A new “The Four” preparatory track for 18–20-year-olds from religious and haredi backgrounds opens in Eliad in the Golan, honoring four IDF reservists killed in Gaza in 2023. Politics & Accountability: Netanyahu faces fresh fire over a report claiming the UAE warned him about Hamas’ Oct. 7 plans in advance; he says he’ll sue. Arts & Culture: John Malkovich canceled a Tel Aviv performance after an unauthorized press release used quotes attributed to him. Pop Culture Protest: Macklemore defended his “Free Palestine” speech at Ed Sheeran’s tour stop, insisting it was about equality—while the backlash keeps spreading. Humanitarian Warning: A new report says cluster munitions caused at least 1,063 casualties worldwide last year, with civilians making up 87%.

Adidas Boycott Backlash: Adidas is apologizing after a campaign featuring a disabled ex-IDF soldier (Shalev Biton) sparked growing pro-Palestine boycott calls, with critics saying the timing is insensitive amid Gaza limb-loss. Venice Film Spotlight: The Gaza Cinema Academy launched at the Venice Film Festival, training Palestinian filmmakers and backing new Gaza stories, with a nine-month diploma already underway. TV/Streaming: Netflix’s Fauda returns for Season 5, picking up the aftermath of Oct. 7 through a new revenge-focused plot. High Holidays Security (Diaspora): Toronto police and Mayor Olivia Chow outlined expanded safety plans for Jewish High Holy Days, including visible and covert measures. Culture & Commemoration: Israel marked the 54th anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre in Tel Aviv with a memorial ceremony for the “Munich 11.” Theatre in Israel: John Malkovich pulled out of a Tel Aviv performance of The Music Critic after a press release falsely attributed quotes to him. US-Israel Arts Diplomacy: The US Embassy held a Jerusalem gala for America’s 250th anniversary, featuring performances by Ishay Ribo and the Israel National Police Orchestra.