JERUSALEM — The foundation behind the prestigious Genesis Prize says this year’s winner, Natalie Portman, has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel, quoting a representative for the U.S. actress as saying recent events in Israel were “extremely distressing to her.”

The Genesis Prize Foundation says it was informed Portman “does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel.”

The statement late Thursday did not refer to specific events. Israel has faced criticism for its response to mass protests on the Gaza-Israel border, in which 28 Palestinians were killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire since March 30. Israel says it’s defending its border.

The foundation says it fears Portman’s decision will “cause our philanthropic initiative to be politicized.”

The prize recognizes Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity. </s> JERUSALEM (AP) - U.S. actress Natalie Portman, this year's recipient of a prize dubbed the "Jewish Nobel," has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel because of extreme distress over recent events in the country, the Genesis Prize Foundation said.

The foundation said it was informed by Portman's representative that the Jerusalem-born Oscar winner "does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel."

Thursday's statement did not refer to specific events that would have prompted Portman's decision.

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2018, file photo, Natalie Portman arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Annihilation" at the Regency Village Theatre. The foundation behind the prestigious Genesis Prize says this year's winner, Natalie Portman, has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel, quoting a representative for the U.S. actress as saying recent events in Israel were "extremely distressing to her," according to a statement on Thursday, April 19, 2018. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Israel has been criticized for its response to mass protests on the Gaza-Israel border, in which 28 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire since March 30. Israel says it is defending its border and accuses Gaza's rulers, the Islamic militant Hamas group, of trying to carry out attacks under the guise of protests.

The Genesis foundation said it was "very saddened" by Portman's decision. "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," it said.

The prize was launched in 2013 to recognize Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity. Previous recipients include former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actor Michael Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman and sculptor Anish Kapoor.

When Portman was announced late last year as the 2018 recipient, she said in a statement released by organizers at the time that she was "proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage."

In Thursday's statement, the Genesis foundation quoted a representative for Portman as saying that "recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her" and that "she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony." </s> Natalie Portman, the Israeli-born American-Oscar winning actress, hit Israel below the belt last Thursday. The 36-year-old actress’s aggression was shocking to many since she has made a big deal of her Israeli roots over the years.

For instance, in 2015 she gave an interview to the Hollywood Reporter. As a new resident of Paris, Portman was asked whether she “was shaken” by the massacre of journalists at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper. Looking her interviewer straight in the eye, she said roughly, “Listen, I’m from Israel.”

In other words, Portman, who moved with her family to the U.S. when she was 3, appropriated the toughness Israelis have been forced to cultivate in the face of their neighbors’ continuous aggression to cultivate a tough-girl image of herself.

Given the use Portman routinely makes of her Israeli pedigree, many were astounded that Portman chose the occasion of Israel’s 70th Independence Day last Thursday to pounce on Israel.

Last November, Portman agreed to receive the Genesis Prize. The prize, which Time magazine dubbed the “Jewish Nobel,” was established five years ago by Russian-Israeli philanthropists with a $100 million endowment. The declared purpose of the prize, which gives the winner a million dollars to spend on the charities of his or her choice, is “to celebrate Jewish achievement and contribution to society.”

The unstated but well-understood goal of the prize foundation, which is dominated by American Jews, is to convince Jewish celebrities identified with the left to support Israel publicly. Previous winners include former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg; actor Michael Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman; and British sculptor and refugee rights advocate Anish Kapoor. This year, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is receiving a lifetime achievement award.

Winners of the Genesis Prize come to Jerusalem for a glamorous ceremony, jointly sponsored by the Prime Minister’s office and the Jewish Agency for Israel. The Prime Minister of Israel hands the winner the prize.

When she agreed to receive the prize last November, Portman sounded enthusiastic. She said, “I am deeply touched and humbled by this honor.

“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. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Genesis Prize Foundation, and look forward to using the global platform it provides to make a difference in the lives of women in Israel and beyond.”

The following month, Israeli billionaire philanthropist Morris Kahn announced that he would donate an additional million dollars to Portman’s prize money.

In the six months that passed since her selection was announced, Portman gave no indication that she was reconsidering her willingness to accept the award.

But then, last Thursday, on Israel’s Independence Day, Portman’s representative told the Genesis Prize Foundation, “Recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel.” Portman’s representative added that “she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony.”

Since Portman did not bother mentioning which “recent events” caused her such “extreme distress,” Israeli politicians drew their own conclusions. Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan and Minister of Cultural Affairs Miri Regev both assumed that Portman was condemning Israel for defending its border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Regev reacted to Portman’s move by saying she “fell like a ripe fruit into the hands of BDS supporters.” BDS, which stands for “boycott, divestment, and sanctions,” is a movement spearheaded by the PLO and advanced by Muslim and leftist groups throughout the West. It is a multifaceted campaign against Israel and its supporters. It involves ostracizing Israel’s supporters and delegitimizing Israel’s right to exist while harming its economy.

Erdan wrote Portman an open letter in which he invited her to visit Israel’s border with Gaza to see what Israel is up against. Erdan noted that her statement was being used by the “anti-Semitic BDS campaign … to advance its ends.”

Erdan was right. Immediately after Portman’s move became public, BDS activists and groups social media organs whooped in triumph, declaring Portman had abandoned Israel and embraced BDS.

Portman may have been concerned that her announcement, and the Israeli and BDS reactions, could harm her image. How can she continue to claim pride in her Israeli “toughness” if she thinks that Israel is evil?

Taking to her Instagram account, Portman wrote, “I chose not to attend [the Genesis Prize Ceremony] because I did not want to appear as endorsing [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to be giving a speech at the ceremony.

“By the same token, I am not part of the BDS movement and do not endorse it. Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation.”

Portman continued, “I treasure my Israeli friends and family, Israeli food, books, art, cinema, and dance.

“Israel has created exactly 70 years ago as a haven for refugees from the Holocaust. 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.”

There are a number of problems with this statement. First, it contradicts Portman’s representative’s statement issued 24 hours earlier.

If Portman canceled her participation in the ceremony because she hates Netanyahu, why did her representative say she was distressed by “recent events”?

Netanyahu didn’t assume power “recently.” He’s been in office for nine years.

Indeed, if her hatred for Netanyahu drove her to boycott the prize, the Genesis Prize Foundation should sue her for fraud since it means that she never intended to accept the prize and she deliberately sabotaged the foundation’s work.

Portman’s statement also bespeaks an amazing contempt for Israel itself – in two deeply distressing ways.

First, her claim that Israel was created “as a haven for refugees from the Holocaust” is a dangerous lie. It is a lie Israel’s most murderous enemies propagate as a means of denying Israel’s right to exist. The Iranians and the Palestinians say the Jews have no ties to their ancestral homeland and that Israel is no more than a sop to Europe’s guilty conscience over the Holocaust.

The truth — which Portman is supposed to know as a proud “Israeli” — is that Zionism, the millennial movement of the Jewish return to the land of Israel, and Zionist Jews created Israel. By the time the Holocaust began in 1938, the Jewish pioneers in the land of Israel had already built the foundations of that state. The Holocaust’s practical impact on Israel’s establishment was that it annihilated millions of Jews who wanted to immigrate to Israel.

As if that weren’t enough, Portman went on to reject Israeli democracy. Netanyahu is not a dictator. He and his government were elected by Israel’s voters. When Portman said she thinks Netanyahu is illegitimate, she effectively said the Israeli public which elected him is illegitimate.

Portman’s behavior isn’t surprising. She has been railing against Israel for the past three years in precisely the manner that she assaulted it last week.

On the one hand, she viciously attacks the country on political grounds. On the other hand, she says she doesn’t want her political attacks to be politicized.

Which brings us to the real problem with the entire episode. Given her savage criticism of Israel, spanning years, Portman should never have received the Genesis Prize in the first place. The fact that she did, and the fact that neither the Genesis Prize foundation nor the American Jewish leadership has yet condemned her since she betrayed her word so viciously, is a testament to the political stupidity of American Jewish leadership.

And this is the real problem. The American Jewish community’s insistent embrace of people who reject its values and interests in favor of its liberal political identity is rapidly undoing it. Multi-year survey data make clear that Jewish Americans are among the most liberal groups in the U.S. Naturally, as liberals, they want to be embraced by the group with which they identify most strongly – the Left. Unfortunately for them, the Left is becoming less and less hospitable to Jews.

Recognizing the shift in her camp, for at least three years, Portman has played a transparently phony double game. To maintain her relevance on the increasingly anti-Jewish left, Portman has signaled her hatred of Israel by slandering Netanyahu, the most popular leader in Israeli history as a racist.

On the other hand, to avoid losing her pride of place in the American Jewish community, every time Portman demonizes Netanyahu – and through him, Israelis society as a whole — she adds a disclaimer that she doesn’t support BDS.

If American Jewish leaders were interested in defending their values and interests, they would have called her on this stunt when she first tried it in 2015. Instead, they gave her the “Jewish Nobel Prize.”

And now Israel is reaping what they sowed. </s> April 20 (UPI) -- Natalie Portman will no longer be traveling to Israel to accept the Genesis Prize, a prestigious award given to those dedicated to the Jewish community and Jewish values.

"Recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel," a representative of Portman's said in a statement. "She cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony."

The actress was set to receive the Genesis Prize at a ceremony in Jerusalem on June 28. Portman was announced as the honoree in November. Previous Genesis Prize winners include actor Michael Douglas and musician Itzhak Perlman.

"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 Genesis Prize Foundation said.

"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," they continued.

Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2015. "I'm very much against Netanyahu. Against. I am very, very upset and disappointed that he was re-elected," she said. </s> Natalie Portman has cancelled her trip to Israel to collect the 2018 Genesis Prize as she “doesn’t feel comfortable” being there following “recent events” in the country.

The Black Swan actress was named the 2018 Genesis Prize Laureate in November for inspiring Jews through her professional achievements and her commitment to the Jewish people and values, and was due to attend a ceremony in her birth city of Jerusalem on 28 June.

However, representatives for The Genesis Prize Foundation issued a statement on their website on Thursday revealing that Natalie will no longer travel to Israel to collect the prize, which has been dubbed the “Jewish Nobel”.

They said that “recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel” and “she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony,” so the event has been cancelled.

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

“We extend our apologies to everyone who has been affected by this decision, particularly to the hundreds of international guests who made plans to fly to Jerusalem to honour Ms. Portman and celebrate the contribution of Jewish women to humanity, the main theme of this year’s ceremony.”

When the 36-year-old was announced as the Laureate, it was revealed that the $1 million prize money would be donated to philanthropic programs which promote women’s equality in her honour.

Natalie did not specify which “recent events” had motivated her decision not to attend the event, but the United Nations and European Union recently called for investigations into the use of live ammunition by Israel’s military, following clashes along the border with Gaza that left dozens of Palestinians dead. </s> The Genesis Prize Foundation thinks Natalie Portman is “a highly accomplished actress, a committed social activist and a wonderful human being.”



Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz thinks her actions border on antisemitism.





Both of these statements were made following Portman’s decision to pull out of the upcoming Genesis Prize ceremony in Jerusalem. And both statements reflect not only the wide range of reactions to the Oscar-winning actress’s decision, but also the deep misunderstanding of her statements, of the prize, and of the future of that $2 million.In November, Portman was selected by the Genesis Prize Foundation to be its fifth laureate, receiving a grant of $1 million to donate to charitable causes, specifically those advancing women’s rights. In December, prominent philanthropist Morris Kahn announced he would double the prize money, giving Portman another $1m. to funnel to the organizations of her choosing.Early on Friday, the Genesis Prize committee informed the media that Portman had decided not to attend the ceremony slated for June in Jerusalem, and therefore it would be canceled.Both the foundation’s statement and Portman’s further explanation posted to Instagram were clearly referring only to the ceremony; not the prize, nor the prize money. For all intents and purposes – until further notice, should it come – Portman is still the 2018 Genesis Prize laureate, and she will still choose where the funds are allocated. After all, if an Oscar winner doesn’t show up to the award ceremony, it doesn’t mean that the person didn’t win the Oscar.While Kahn released a statement Friday saying that the money will be distributed by the Genesis Prize Foundation and “not by Ms. Portman,” the foundation itself has been careful to say no such thing. In conversations on Saturday and Sunday, sources connected to the foundation would not comment on the future of the funds, or the possibility of Portman’s continued involvement.As of Sunday afternoon, Portman was still listed as the 2018 laureate on the Genesis Prize website, and her image still graced the banner of the prize’s Facebook page.Over the weekend, right-wing Israeli politicians and Palestinian activists alike labeled Portman’s actions as supporting BDS. Neither side was particularly swayed by the actress’s own statement on Instagram, saying that she does not endorse the BDS movement – and that she loves Israeli culture, but did not want to be seen as endorsing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Many public figures in America – particularly sports stars – have declined invitations to the White House so as not to be seen as supporting US President Donald Trump. Nobody considers them to be boycotting the United States of America.BUT WOULD an appearance at the Genesis ceremony really have been seen as supporting Netanyahu?Those saying that the prize has nothing to do with Netanyahu – and her boycotting the ceremony is therefore an insult to Israel as a whole – are certainly misinformed. The prize has a lot to do with Netanyahu. It is handed out by the prime minister, and his director-general is on the prize committee. Netanyahu was the one who announced the prize’s creation in 2012, and it was labeled then as a joint initiative between the government, the Jewish Agency for Israel – a quasi-governmental group – and the Genesis Prize Foundation.Of course, Portman knew all that when she accepted the prize, and has known that for the five months since then. She needed to look no further than the images of a grinning Michael Douglas, Michael Bloomberg and Itzhak Perlman – the prize’s first three winners – being awarded the prize by Netanyahu to know what she had signed up for.It should be noted that the prize’s fourth laureate, Anish Kapoor, also canceled the prize ceremony in Jerusalem after receiving the honor. Kapoor said in May 2017 that it would be “inappropriate” to hold a festive ceremony “in light of the escalating war in Syria.” The famed artist directed the $1 million to five global NGOs who work assisting refugees around the world.PORTMAN COULD potentially have exited the ceremony in a way that drew less attention – and disparagement – but she made her choice deliberately. The Harvard graduate and mother of two has never shied away from speaking her mind, and she did not do so this weekend.But labeling her a supporter of BDS is false and patronizing, particularly when she has explicitly stated otherwise. Portman has long spoken of her love for Israel, its culture and its language, and even gave her two children Hebrew-inspired names – her son is named Aleph (the first Hebrew letter) and her daughter Amalia (“labor of God”). In 2015, Portman chose, for her directorial debut, to adapt the Amos Oz novel A Tale of Love and Darkness for the screen. Portman also wrote and starred in the film, which was shot in Jerusalem. On Sunday, Oz’s daughter, Fania Oz-Salzberger, posted a photo on Twitter of Oz, Portman and her co-star Gilad Kahana during filming.“I took this pic of Amos Oz with his cinematic parents #NataliePortman & Gilad Kanana on the film set of ‘A Tale of Love and Darkness,’” Oz-Salzberger wrote. “Natalie chose it as her directing debut, shot it in Hebrew, played my grandma, filled it with her love. To claim she’s anti-Israel is so idiotic.”Portman is not an elected official, nor a representative of any movement. Her decision to skip the Genesis Prize ceremony is significant, yes, but it is hardly a crisis of historic proportions. Israelis have bigger concerns, such as the fate of Avera Mengistu, an Israeli being held in Gaza; the future of a prime minister mired in scandal and potential indictments; and the deepening concerns of Iranian action along the border with Syria.Ultimately, it was Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman who had the most sensible response to the scandal, when he was asked about it while visiting the Gaza border on Friday.“We’re here talking about security,” he said. “We came here to see that the nation of Israel is receiving all the security it needs, and it is.” </s> The Genesis foundation said it was ‘very saddened’ by Portman’s decision.

US actress Natalie Portman, this year’s recipient of a prize dubbed the “Jewish Nobel”, has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel because of extreme distress over recent events in the country, the Genesis Prize Foundation said.

The foundation said it was informed by Portman’s representative that the Jerusalem-born Oscar winner “does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel”.

Thursday’s statement did not refer to specific events that would have prompted Portman’s decision.

Israel has been criticised for its response to mass protests on the Gaza-Israel border, in which 28 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire since March 30.

Israel says it is defending its border and accuses Gaza’s rulers, the Islamic militant Hamas group, of trying to carry out attacks under the guise of protests.

The Genesis foundation said it was “very saddened” by Portman’s decision.

“We fear that Ms Portman’s decision will cause our philanthropic initiative to be politicised, something we have worked hard for the past five years to avoid,” it said.

The prize was launched in 2013 to recognise Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity.

Previous recipients include former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, actor Michael Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman and sculptor Anish Kapoor.

When Portman was announced late last year as the 2018 recipient, she said in a statement released by organisers at the time that she was “proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage”.

In Thursday’s statement, the Genesis foundation quoted a representative for Portman as saying that “recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her” and that “she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony”.

Israel’s right-wing Culture Minister Miri Regev said that she was sorry to hear that Portman “has fallen like a ripe fruit into the hands of BDS supporters”, referring to a Palestinian-led global movement of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

“Natalie, a Jewish actress born in Israel, is joining those who relate to the wondrous success story of Israel’s rebirth as a story of ‘darkness and darkness’,” Ms Regev said.

Rachel Azaria, a lawmaker from the centrist Kulanu party, warned that Portman’s decision to stay away is a sign of eroding support for Israel among young American Jews.

“The cancellation by Natalie Portman needs to light warning signs,” Ms Azaria said.

“She is totally one of us. She identifies with her Jewishness and Israeli-ness. She is expressing now the voices of many in US Jewry, mainly those of the young generation.

“This is a community that was always a significant anchor for the state of Israel. The price of losing them could be too high.” </s> JERUSALEM -- U.S. actress Natalie Portman, this year's recipient of a prize dubbed the "Jewish Nobel," has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel because of extreme distress over recent events in the country, the Genesis Prize Foundation said. The foundation said it was informed by Portman's representative that the Jerusalem-born Oscar winner "does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel."

Thursday's statement did not refer to specific events that would have prompted Portman's decision.

Israel has been criticized for its response to mass protests on the Gaza-Israel border, in which 28 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire since March 30. Israel says it is defending its border and accuses Gaza's rulers, the Islamic militant Hamas group, of trying to carry out attacks under the guise of protests.

Death toll rises in Gaza-Israel border protests

The Genesis foundation said it was "very saddened" by Portman's decision. "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," it said.

The prize was launched in 2013 to recognize Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity. Previous recipients include former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actor Michael Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman and sculptor Anish Kapoor.

When Portman was announced late last year as the 2018 recipient, she said in a statement released by organizers at the time that she was "proud of my Israeli roots and Jewish heritage."

In Thursday's statement, the Genesis foundation quoted a representative for Portman as saying that "recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her" and that "she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony." </s> (JTA) — Natalie Portman will no longer get to choose where her $2 million Genesis Prize will be donated after saying she will not travel to Israel to receive the award.

Instead, the Genesis Prize Foundation will decide where the money goes.

Portman is refusing to travel to Israel to receive the prize because “[r]ecent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel,” the foundation announced Thursday. It has canceled the award ceremony in June as a result.

The prize, known as the “Jewish Nobel,” has been awarded annually for five years. Portman was announced as the 2018 laureate in November for a prize that “honors individuals who serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through their outstanding professional achievement along with their commitment to Jewish values and the Jewish people.”

Every winner has pledged to donate the award money, which was doubled this year to $2 million. Portman said she would be donating her award to women’s rights groups.

The Genesis Prize Foundation will still give the money to women’s rights groups. But Portman will no longer choose the recipients, owing to her refusal to attend the award ceremony, according to a statement by Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn, who supplied half of this year’s award.

“I cannot support the decision of canceling an appearance due to ‘recent events in Israel,'” Kahn said in the statement, which first appeared in The Jerusalem Post. “Together with the Genesis Prize Foundation, we will make sure that women’s rights organizations … will not be affected in any way. The prize money will be distributed by the Genesis Prize Foundation, not by Ms. Portman.”

Portman, a Jerusalem native, did not specify which recent events led to her decision. Israel has met significant international criticism for its response to protests on the Gaza border in which dozens of Palestinians have been killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sparked controversy by announcing and then rescinding an agreement to settle African asylum seekers living in Israel in Western countries.

Portman has previously joined efforts to support Israel. In 2015, she directed and starred in “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” a Hebrew-language film adaptation of the Amos Oz book of the same name that chronicles the author’s life surrounding Israel’s founding.
Actress Natalie Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, pulls out of the upcoming Genesis Prize (worth 1 million USD) ceremony in Israel over "recent events in Israel". The Genesis Prize Foundation says it is worried the event will become politicised.