By Tom Porter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A senior Israeli minister has compared Stars Wars actor Natalie Portman to the movie's villain Anakin Skywalker over her decision to boycott an awards ceremony in Israel.
Gilad Erdan, internal security and strategic affairs minister, spoke following Portman's decision not to attend Israel's Genesis Awards.
...
Read More on World
In an Instagram posting Saturday, Portman said she backed out of the award because she didn't want to appear with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a letter to Portman Sunday, cited by Israeli media, Erdan said "Anakin Skywalker, a character you know well from Star Wars, underwent a similar process. He began to believe that the Jedi Knights were evil, and that the forces of the Dark Side were the protectors of democracy, "Erdan wrote. "I call upon you not to let the Dark Side win."
He accused Portman of having been duped by Hamas propaganda with regard to clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians on the Gaza-Israel border that have left 35 protesters dead, claiming that Hamas was using the "riots as a cover to carry out armed terror attacks."
Later, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said Portman had "played into the hands of the worst of our haters and of the worst of the anti-Semites in the Middle East."
The Genesis Awards are awarded annually to those "who inspire others through their dedication to the Jewish community and Jewish values."
A representative for the U.S.-Israeli actor, who starred in the late 1990s Star Wars prequel trilogy, initially said that Portman had decided to withdraw from the awards because of "distressing" events in the country, leading to critics interpreting her decision as indicating support for the movement to boycott Israel.
Portman said Saturday she did not support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to isolate Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians.
"Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation," she said.
"Israel was created exactly 70 years ago as a haven for refugees from the Holocaust," she said. "But the mistreatment of those suffering from today's atrocities is simply not in line with my Jewish values. Because I care about Israel, I must stand up against violence, corruption, inequality, and abuse of power."
The Genesis Prize has been awarded since 2014 to individuals for excellence in their professional fields and "who inspire others through their dedication to the Jewish community and Jewish values."
Previous winners have included former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, sculptor Anish Kapoor, violinist Itzhak Perlman and Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, all of whom donated their prize money to charitable causes.
Portman was born in Jerusalem and moved to the United States at the age of three. She won the Best Actress Oscar in 2010 for her role in "Black Swan."
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines