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Natalie Portman Turns Down Israel Honor, Cancels Trip

Natalie Portman Turns Down Israel Honor, Cancels Trip

Written by Ann Brown

Apr 23, 2018

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Actress Natalie Portman is used to drama on the big screen, but she is currently embroiled in a real-life drama. Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, was selected in November as the 2018 recipient of the Genesis Prize, which has been called the  “Jewish Nobel.” Now Portman has announced she will be not be accepting the award, according to the organization that had planned to honor the actress.

In response, an Israeli lawmaker wants Portman‘s citizenship revoked.

The Likud-National Liberal Movement member Oren Hazan said: “From the outset, the idea of granting the Genesis Prize to Natalie Portman was complete craziness,” as the New York Post reported. “She’s an actress, but she is unworthy of any honor in the State of Israel. Sweetness can come from strength: I call on Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to rescind Portman’s Israeli citizenship. She left Israel at age 4, and has no real connection to the State.”

The Genesis Prize honors individuals “who inspire others through their dedication to the Jewish community and Jewish values.” The organizer has canceled the entire ceremony due to Portman’s decision to not take part in the June event. The award includes a prize of $1 million. Past recipients have included former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor Michael Douglas.

“Ms. Portman is a highly accomplished actress, a committed social activist and a wonderful human being. The staff of the foundation enjoyed getting to know her over the past six months, admires her humanity, and respects her right to publicly disagree with the policies of the government of Israel,” according to a statement from the Genesis Prize Foundation.

The foundation added: “However, we are very saddened that she has decided not to attend the Genesis Prize Ceremony in Jerusalem for political reasons. We fear that Ms. Portman’s decision will cause our philanthropic initiative to be politicized, something we have worked hard for the past five years to avoid.”

“I am deeply touched and humbled by this honor,” Portman said in a statement in November, CNN reported “I am proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage; they are crucial parts of who I am. It is such a privilege to be counted among the outstanding Laureates whom I admire so much.”

Portman has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling The Hollywood Reporter in a 2015 interview, “I’m very much against Netanyahu. Against. I am very, very upset and disappointed that he was re-elected.”

There has been pressure on notables by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions group, which protests the treatment of the Palestinians, not to visit Israel, according to Hollywood Reporter.

So far, Portman has not released a statement.

Natalie Portman
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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