Natalie Portman says Israel 'not in line with Jewish values' after Genesis prize snub

Hollywood star Natalie Portman on Friday spoke out about her decision to reject a prestigious Israeli award, stating that due to the "mistreatment of those suffering from today's atrocities" that Israel was not currently "in line with [her] Jewish values."

"“Let me speak for myself. I chose not to attend because I did not want to appear as endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to be giving a speech at the ceremony,” she wrote.

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“I am not part of the BDS movement and do not endorse it,” she said, referring to a Palestinian-led global movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. “Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation. I treasure my Israeli friends and family, Israeli food, books, art, cinema, and dance," Portman added.

She explained that she intended to "support a number of charities in Israel" which she would announce soon.

Earlier in the day Portman, upon rejecting the million-dollar Genesis Prize, cited "distressing" recent events as her reason for not participating in the award ceremony in Israel but had not yet clarified her reasons.

The organizers of the prize subsequently announced that they will not hold the ceremony this year.

“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,” the organization said in a statement.

“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.”

Past laureates include virtuoso Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and US actor Michael Douglas.

Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Security, Gilad Erdan, sent an official letter to the Jerusalem-born actress urging her to come visit Israel, especially the Gaza border communities, surmising that she had been "influenced by the campaign of media misinformation and lies regarding Gaza orchestrated by the Hamas terrorist group.".

"I know that it is difficult to discuss complex realities from a distance. I therefore believe that it is important that you come to Israel and see for yourself the situation on the ground," he pleaded.

Erdan defended the IDF's actions in Gaza as "proportionate, careful, and in line with international law" in this past month's "March of Great Return" demonstrations that have claimed the lives of 38 Palestinians.

"While criticism of Israel's policies is legitimate, all those who believe in Israel's right to exist and defend itself against terror must stand together to reject BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]," he said arguing that the campaign that aims to put pressure on Israel through economic and political boycotts was taking advantage of her decision.

He ended the letter with a comparison to the Star Wars movies in which she starred, saying "I call on you not to let the Dark Side win."

Culture Minister Miri Regev criticized Portman's decision and said she had "fallen into the hands" of the BDS campaign.

She added, "Natalie, a Jewish actress who was born in Israel, joins those who relate to the story of success and the wondrous rebirth of Israel as a story of darkness."

Regev called on Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to cancel the actress's citizenship.

Likud MK Oren Hazan said, "she is an Israeli Jewess who on the one hand makes cynical use of her origins in order to advance her career and who, on the other hand, prides herself on having being drafted into the IDF."

However, Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria said that Portman was "expressing the voices of many in US Jewry, and particularly those of the younger generation." She added, "this is a community that was always a significant anchor for the State of Israel and the price of losing it is likely too high."

Portman, who was born as Natalie Hershlag and carries dual American and Israeli citizenship, left Israel at age three when her parents immigrated to the US. She later returned to Israel and took graduate courses at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the spring of 2004.

She was awarded with the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2011 for her title role in the psychological thriller "Black Swan". Portman previously directed the short film "Eve" and a segment of the anthology film "New York, I Love You."