Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., May 16, 2008 Iyyar 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 06:45 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Academy Award-winning American actor Jon Voight visiting Jerusalem on Monday. (AP)
Last update - 19:43 13/05/2008
Oscar winner Voight to Qassam victims: 'You're on the front line'
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
Tags: Angelina Jolie, Israel 

Award-winning American actor Jon Voight visited Israeli victims of Palestinian rocket attacks in Sderot on Tuesday, taking pictures with children and speaking out harshly against latest truce efforts to stop the rocket barrages and Israeli reprisals in Gaza.

Voight described the southern Israeli town as a "war zone." Sderot is a frequent target of Palestinian rocket fire.

"When I see these children, from my perspective they are traumatized children from a war zone," Voight said. "You are on the front line."
Advertisement
During his visit, he met the town's mayor and families affected by Palestinian rockets.

Voight, who a best actor Academy Award in 1979, is also the estranged father of American actress Angelina Jolie.

On Monday, Voight met families affected by Palestinian attacks in a Jerusalem restaurant. One man sat in a wheelchair, missing both his legs after a suicide bombing in Jerusalem in 2002. Another man still had his arm in a sling from an attack on the now-dismantled Israeli settlement bloc in the northern Gaza Strip.

Voight, surrounded by photographers, knelt down next to children and sketched a picture of King David - a prominent Jewish biblical figure - next to a little boy. The young boy's father was killed in a suicide bombing on a bus in 2004.

Voight said his experiences led him to believe that Israel should not negotiate with Palestinians militants for a truce. An Egyptian mediator was in Jerusalem on Monday to work on a truce proposal. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip frequently fire rockets toward nearby Israeli communities, prompting deadly army airstrikes and ground assaults into Gaza. On Monday, an elderly Israeli woman was killed after a Palestinian rocket fired from Gaza exploded in a village outside Gaza.

"They are barbarians," Voight said, referring to the Gaza militants. "They are relentless, looking to destroy (Israel)," the actor said. "If somebody breaks your leg, don't give another. Don't play this game."

Palestinians complain that Israel is responsible for much of the deprivation in poverty-stricken Gaza. Though it pulled out of the territory in 2005, Israel controls all but one of its border crossings. Since the Islamic militant Hamas overran Gaza last year, Israel has enforced a blockade, leading to severe shortages of vital supplies.

After meeting the Israeli children, the actor failed to launch a bunch of colorful balloons tied to a bag that held prayers for peace. The weight of the bag kept the balloons skirting the ground. "God is down there, too," he joked.

Voight was the guest of Chabad, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish outreach program that helps Israeli victims of militant attacks. "It's like a warm hug," said Ester Zigron, a 42-year-old woman whose husband was wounded in an attack and left partially blind and deaf.

Voight was visibly moved by the visit and said Israel shouldn't negotiate with Palestinian militants. He called the attackers barbarians who spat on Israeli peacemaking attempts.

Years of fighting in Israel and the Palestinian territories have cost the lives of more than 4,000 Palestinians and more than 1,000 Israelis.

On Sunday, Voight was in the stands to watch Hapoel Jerusalem bounce back with a 96-84 victory over Ironi Ramat Gan.

Voight is an academy award winner and father of actress Angelina Jolie.

Related articles:
  • Angelina Jolie visits Baghdad to highlight plight of Iraqi refugees
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Animated massacre
    Animated Israeli film at Cannes explores Sabra and Shatila massacre.
    Kowtowing to funders
    When papers are sponsored, can their reporting be truly independent?
      1.   Voit should take some crack, he needs it 19:50  |  El-Birawi 12/05/08
      2.   VOIGHT IS AN IDIOT 19:55  |  JH 12/05/08
      3.   bravo to jon voight 20:03  |  darmon michael 12/05/08
      4.   Barbarians ... hmmm sounds about exactly right 20:11  |  GZLives 12/05/08
      5.   The "Asphalt-cowboy" should stick to acting..... 20:12  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/05/08
      6.   Thank you, Jon Voight!!!! Your support for Israel is appreciated 20:13  |  spade 12/05/08
      7.   To JH...plenty of "has beens" like Jimma Carter support Jihadis 20:14  |  spade 12/05/08
      8.   To #1..any culture that would recruit young children 20:17  |  spade 12/05/08
      9.   Voight is a smart man 20:19  |  ben rivers 12/05/08
      10.   So this is why Angelina wont speak to him! 20:20  |  JC 12/05/08
      11.   There are victims on both sides....biased 20:24  |  American 12/05/08
      12.   Voight is a "has been" who likes jews too much 20:27  |  Jimmy Carter 12/05/08
      13.   He is an actor, Ok, and even the father of Angelina Jolie ... 20:30  |  Axel 12/05/08
      14.   Serial philanderer.. 20:33  |  Colorado Blew 12/05/08
      15.   Actors 20:40  |  Luther 12/05/08
      16.   Jon Voight is 100% correct they are Barbarians 20:43  |  THE WARRIOR 12/05/08
      17.   the actor may not have a great career now... 20:45  |  TAZ 12/05/08
      18.   SPADE, ISRAEL IS AN EVIL OPPRESSOR 20:46  |  JH 12/05/08
      19.   We`d love to have you visit gaza mr. jolie 20:47  |  POP 12/05/08
      20.   Swiss Dino #5 20:51  |  Louis M. Fried 12/05/08
      21.   What an ass hole 20:55  |  Mad max 12/05/08
      22.   SHURRUP! 21:23  |  bashar 12/05/08
      23.   Voight... The Israel marketing machine is ... 21:24  |  Ali 12/05/08
      24.   SWiss Dino 5 21:25  |  ChanahS 12/05/08
      25.   El Birawi, the two sides of Islam-Good and Evil 21:31  |  Simon 12/05/08
      26.   JON VOIGHT 21:31  |  Arik Silverman 12/05/08
      27.   Does he know that Palestinian exist and suffer? 21:48  |  GZLives 12/05/08
      28.   I like that man 21:50  |  Tom Thumb 12/05/08
      29.   #18, JH, 100 years of Arab opression is worse 22:00  |  David 12/05/08
      30.   Is there any particular reason why Voight`s opinion matters? 22:01  |  Clickfool 12/05/08
      31.   #21, self infliction is not the same as war crime 22:02  |  David 12/05/08
      32.   #19 - he doesn`t want to be kidnapped! 22:03  |  redmike 12/05/08
      33.   swiss Dino # 5 22:08  |  Philippe 12/05/08
      34.   Jon Voight visit 22:09  |  Mary 12/05/08
      35.   Voight is Void of Common Sense 22:23  |  Markus 12/05/08
      36.   Voight`s Boy oh Boy 22:25  |  Pierre 12/05/08
      37.   Mary`s Upcoming Visit 22:25  |  Tex 12/05/08
      38.   Clickfool # 30 22:26  |  Richard Kaplan 12/05/08
      39.   Now I know 22:36  |  JJ 12/05/08
      40.   Look To Foolio For Opinions That Matter 22:38  |  Tex 12/05/08
      41.   Click, Jhon is a meesseger, please read my message to El Birawi 22:40  |  Simon 12/05/08
      42.   DAVID, IT`S ISRAEL WHICH EXPELLED PALESTINIANS 22:41  |  JH 12/05/08
      43.   He`s right 22:47  |  Gili 12/05/08
      44.   # 24 Chanah S 22:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/05/08
      45.   Clickfool #30 _ We Should Respect His Opinion 22:49  |  Eli 12/05/08
      46.   # 33 Philippe 22:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/05/08
      47.   jon voight 23:01  |  b 12/05/08
      48.   # 20 Louis M. Fried 23:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/05/08
      49.   For Eli in Berkeley # 45 23:07  |  Clickfool 12/05/08
      50.   Voight is a GOOD HONEST MAN, bless him 23:29  |  Amir 12/05/08
      51.   Voight - A Real Mensch (Too Good for Hollywood) 23:54  |  Tod Zuckerman 12/05/08
      52.   We are acting like children 00:16  |  Israeli 13/05/08
      53.   Look at Hizbullah and Hamas who kill their own 00:18  |  Jon 13/05/08
      54.   Clickfool, no 30, a logical answer 00:28  |  Sam C 13/05/08
      55.   The first stone 00:35  |  Baz Mann 13/05/08
      56.   Clickfool no 49, You`re trying to rewrite history 00:40  |  Sam C 13/05/08
      57.   Why would this matter? 00:43  |  Rory 13/05/08
      58.   Richard Kaplan #38 Clickfool 00:52  |  Free Gilad Shalit 13/05/08
      59.   GB is a great country, Eli and Clickfool ! 00:52  |  Ben Yoseph 13/05/08
      60.   John Voight certainly knows what he`s talking about! 00:53  |  Free Gilad Shalit 13/05/08
      61.   #18 01:02  |  JoJo 13/05/08
      62.   Bravo John Voight 01:02  |  Ralph Levy 13/05/08
      63.   #52...Naive putz... 01:06  |  spade 13/05/08
      64.   Nothing wrong with what he is doing 01:18  |  Donald 13/05/08
      65.   Clickfool 01:24  |  Connie 13/05/08
      66.   The anti-Israel Crew stifles discussion 01:30  |  Realist 13/05/08
      67.   #42; JH you really should read Benny Morris 01:55  |  Doc Holliday 13/05/08
      68.   John Voight 01:57  |  Michael 13/05/08
      69.   Voight is far smarter than the Israeli left. 02:09  |  Chaim 13/05/08
      70.   #12 Jimmy Carter - No, you`re the has been 02:36  |  * BEN JABO 13/05/08
      71.   #9 POP 02:38  |  POP`S KEEPER 13/05/08
      72.   Swiss Dino #44 02:42  |  ChanahS 13/05/08
      73.   He`s sucking up to Jewish executives 02:52  |  no hypocrite 13/05/08
      74.   #5 - sticking Dino 02:59  |  SG 13/05/08
      75.   and what about visiting Palestinian victims of Israeli attacks? 03:06  |  concerned 13/05/08
      76.   #Colorado. One needn`t be perfect to make valid observations. 03:10  |  Chaim 13/05/08
      77.   Great Goy 03:19  |  Elie 13/05/08
      78.   Thanks for telling the truth Jon Voight 05:03  |  Abu Yusuf 13/05/08
      79.   Jon Voight 05:04  |  David Friedman 13/05/08
      80.   Silly Clickfool gets shot down again. 05:46  |  Ofir 13/05/08
      81.   # 72 Chanah S 10:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/05/08
      82.   # 74 SG 10:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/05/08
      83.   Jon Voight NO" Has Been" Personal attacks are a joke 11:25  |  Doc Holliday 13/05/08
      84.   John Voight 12:53  |  Cyasher 13/05/08
      85.   Clickfool # 49 _ Re Britian`s Solo Stand 16:35  |  Eli 13/05/08
      86.   Swiss (Dino) eternal holiday 20:00  |  David Israel 13/05/08
      87.   Simon, you are right. There are also good and evil 20:08  |  El-Birawi 13/05/08
      88.   Voigt`s Visit to Sderot 20:51  |  jed nightingale 13/05/08
      89.   Now I know for sure 21:17  |  Aaron 13/05/08
      90.   Swiss Dino 21:30  |  Philippe 13/05/08
      91.   is this not the same guy, who abondaned his child and wife? 21:35  |  omolll 13/05/08
      92.   resp to 11/American 21:38  |  Tom 13/05/08
      93.   # 86 David Israel 22:06  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/05/08
      94.   Clickfoot and toe jam have much in common 22:27  |  x-ray 13/05/08
      95.   You are right 22:42  |  Mike 13/05/08
      96.   Looks like all the anti-Semites are out today! 22:55  |  IW 13/05/08
      97.   For Sam C #56 23:18  |  Clickfool 13/05/08
      98.   #49 To Brainlite Clicky - Auschwitz and our Great Jewish martyrs 23:24  |  Strangelove 13/05/08
      99.   For Eli again # 85 23:28  |  Clickfool 13/05/08
      100.   For X-ray # 94 00:00  |  Clickfool 14/05/08
      101.   A Good Man 00:44  |  Ron 14/05/08
      102.   #99 For Brainlite Clickfool again 01:24  |  Strangelove 14/05/08
      103.   OF COURSE THEIR BARBARIANS- This conflict is a Clash of Civil.... 02:13  |  Anthony Fallon 14/05/08
      104.   Jon Voight is far from a has been 02:24  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08
      105.   #5 Swiss (Dino) 02:26  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08
      106.   A chacun son gout! 02:43  |  hala 14/05/08
      107.   #88 jed nightingale, I love your post 02:48  |  hala 14/05/08
      108.   The Void of Voight 02:57  |  DJ 14/05/08
      109.   THAT`S THE PROBLEM OLMERT/BARAK DON`T SEE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEE` 03:17  |  david 14/05/08
      110.   #108 DJ 04:04  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08
      111.   Jon Voight is a hero for standing with Israel 04:20  |  Nechama 14/05/08
      112.   Clickfool _ Give it Up 05:28  |  Eli 14/05/08
      113.   Ballistic - Your package is awaiting pick up 06:58  |  Ace Hardware 14/05/08
      114.   Temporary Absence 15:15  |  ballistic 14/05/08
      115.   G-d bless Voight. The Antisemites don`t like him 16:08  |  Elly 14/05/08
      116.   #42 No it`s the Arabs that expelled 1 million Jews 16:11  |  EgyptJewRefugee 14/05/08
      117.   #49 Jews owe Britain nothing except for Balfour 16:14  |  Liliane 14/05/08
      118.   A Pro-Isreal opinion from Hollywood? Cool! 05:58  |  Yehuda 16/05/08
     Read & React
    Barak: It won't be long before Israel stops rocket fire
    Responses: 159
    Bush: We must be firm in face of those who murder innocents
    Responses: 140
    Israel dismayed over allies' burgeoning trade with Iran
    Responses: 128
    MI Chief: Rockets could reach Be'er Sheva within two years
    Responses: 92
    Abbas: It's time to end the Nakba of the Palestinian people
    Responses: 118
    Rosner's Domain
    Rosner's Guest: Is Judaism more a religion or a nationality?
    Poll: Was Bush attacking Obama?
    Herzl would have been proud to give Obama's interview
    Democratic hold on Jewish vote could slip (WTR)
    Bush, a job half-done


    More Headlines
    05:52 Israel: Bush means business on Iran nukes
    03:46 ANALYSIS: Who wants to stop Iran?
    06:18 Was Bush's Knesset speech a swipe at Obama?
    04:13 Israel urges Egypt to resume role in talks to free Shalit
    02:35 Israel protests UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's use of term 'nakba'
    05:00 Evidence surfaces of Herzl's desire to be buried in Haifa
    05:51 Slovakian PM hopes to turn page, urges closer ties with Israel
    05:23 Bin Laden expected to address Israel in upcoming message
    06:15 Olmert petitions High Court against Talansky deposition
    22:16 Qassam rocket strikes Sderot synagogue; no one hurt
    06:05 Ashkelon mall back open after attack, but no one shopping
    06:08 Peres: Conference 'promoted Israel around the world'
    20:39 Philly Jewish paper accused of kowtowing to its funders
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Products
    Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off.
    The Terraces
    Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya
    Together Celebrating Israel's 60th
    The Jewish Agency and You - together making history
    Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
    http://www.pardes.org.il/
    Free the Palestinians from:
    Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved