Natalie Portman cancels attending Israeli award ceremony
Los Angeles
April 20, 2018
Actress Natalie Portman pulled out of an Israeli award
ceremony in light of "recent events" in the country.
The Oscar-winning
actress, who has dual Israeli-American citizenship was announced as the honouree
in last November by The Genesis Prize Foundation with the Genesis Prize
Laureate, Israel's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, reports people.com.
The
Foundation said in a statement: "Recent events in Israel have been extremely
distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public
events in Israel... She cannot in good conscience move forward with the
ceremony.
"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."
A
representative for Portman, 36, did not immediately respond.
Due to the
actress' decision, the Foundation cancelled the award ceremony scheduled for
June 28. The Genesis Prize is given to those who are considered an inspiration
to the future generation of Jews through their commitment to Jewish values,
social justice, tolerance and charity, according to the Foundation's website.
Los Angeles
April 20, 2018
Actress Natalie Portman pulled out of an Israeli award
ceremony in light of "recent events" in the country.
The Oscar-winning
actress, who has dual Israeli-American citizenship was announced as the honouree
in last November by The Genesis Prize Foundation with the Genesis Prize
Laureate, Israel's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, reports people.com.
The
Foundation said in a statement: "Recent events in Israel have been extremely
distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public
events in Israel... She cannot in good conscience move forward with the
ceremony.
"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."
A
representative for Portman, 36, did not immediately respond.
Due to the
actress' decision, the Foundation cancelled the award ceremony scheduled for
June 28. The Genesis Prize is given to those who are considered an inspiration
to the future generation of Jews through their commitment to Jewish values,
social justice, tolerance and charity, according to the Foundation's website.
Tags: Natalie Portman