ISRAEL WHY traces the creation of the State of Israel and exposes the contradiction between normality and abnormality in the existence of a Jewish state. Whether at Yad Vashem, the Israeli memorial to murdered Jews, in supermarkets, in Jerusalem, in the desert or the Mediterranean, he explores normality in this ‘abnormal’ country. Lanzmann asks the question necessary for the proper functioning of a Jewish state, a question without answer perhaps: “Who is a Jew?”

Over 20 years of research and writing, the very first film of Claude Lanzmann highlights with empathy, intelligence, and humour the achievements and contradictions of the Israeli nation in the making. It transcends traditional reportage or historical film by getting as close as possible to the reality of Israelis.