Jerusalem-born actor was due to receive 2018 Genesis prize but cancels saying she ‘cannot in good conscience’ attend ceremony.
Natalie Portman has pulled out of a major award ceremony due to take place in Israel, citing her “distress” at recent events in the country.
Portman, who was born in Jerusalem and holds dual Israeli and US citizenship, was named in November as the recipient of the 2018 Genesis award, a yearly prize for “outstanding achievement by individuals who have attained excellence and international renown in their chosen professional fields [who] embody the character of the Jewish people”.
However, Portman informed the Genesis Prize Foundation she would not travel to Israel for the ceremony, which has been cancelled.
Portman’s representative said: “[R]ecent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel” and that “she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony”.
No specific events were mentioned, but the recent military response to Palestinian demonstrations on the Gaza-Israel border has provoked worldwide condemnation.
The move drew swift condemnation from Israel’s governing Likud party. The culture minister, Miri Regev, referring to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, claimed she had “fallen like ripe fruit into the hands of BDS supporters”, while Knesset member Oren Hazan demanded authorities revoke her citizenship.
Source: The Guardian
