Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen and Natalie Portman slam Toronto Film Festival protest
Jewish actors sign letter in L.A. Times and Toronto Star against protest of festival over homage to Tel Aviv.
By Itamar Zohar and Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel newsWASHINGTON - A number of Hollywood stars circulated a letter Tuesday protesting a petition calling for a protest over the Toronto International Film Festival for its Tel Aviv-themed event.
The letter, which appeared simultaneously in the Los Angeles Times and the Toronto Star was signed, among others, by Jerry Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen, Natalie Portman, Jason Alexander and Lisa Kudrow.
The letter, which was paid for by Jewish organizations in Los Angeles and Toronto, said, "Anyone who has actually seen recent Israeli cinema, movies that are political and personal, comic and tragic, often critical, knows they are in no way a propaganda arm for any government policy."
Film festival protesters, which included culture critic Naomi Klein, and directors John Greyson and Richard Fung, said the Israeli films presented at the festival promote Israel's recent publicity campaign, which seeks to show Israel and Tel Aviv as enlightened, liberal places, without conducting a dialogue on their treatment of Palestinians.
The Toronto festival's management did not give in to pressure, and showed all 10 films in the City of City event, which spotlighted Tel Aviv. Among them were Ephraim Kishon's "Big Dig," Assi Dayan's "Life According to Agfa," and Keren Yedaya's "Bride of the Sea."
Meanwhile, Jane Fonda, who had initially opposed the spotlight on Tel Aviv at the festival, Tuesday released a statement that she had changed her mind.
"I signed the letter without reading it carefully enough, without asking myself if some of the wording wouldn't exacerbate the situation rather than bring about constructive dialogue," Fonda wrote on the huffingtonpost.com. She added that the suffering of both sides should be articulated.
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I think it was the Borat in Sacha Baron Cohen that joined the defense of 'Brand Israel" at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Israeli films are not being boycotted in Toronto -- but the occupation is being protested. However, these folks sticking up for Israeli war crimes CAN be boycotted. Too bad -- I like Lisa Kudrow. Thought she was smart. Obviously, I was in error.
And anyone else in the UK who thinks like you. You do not speak for the rest of us!
I've never been fond of Jane Fonda, but I am now reconsidering, having seen further evidence of her genuine honesty.
souncly defeated..Just proves the banality of frame of mind of this "girl"Jane Fonda.Girl because Jane Fonda never grew up.She was raised in a abusive family,Her father,Henry Fonda,did not pay much attention to his daughter,nor his wife,actress Francis Brokaw,who after 11 years of unhapinees with Actor husband Henry,suffered a breakdown and committed suicide in mental hospital.Jane always looked for fatherly figure.Director Vadim married her and filmed her as sex object in pornographic movie Barbanella.As American social and political activist and politician,most famous for his involvement in the animal rights,and the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s.He is the former husband of actress Jane Fonda.He made several high-profile trips as a peace activist to Cambodia and North Vietnam during America's involvement in the Vietnam War,including an one in 1972 to Hanoi with Jane.Then,Jane married Ted Turner,CNN mogul owner(1991-2001).Now,Jane met Jesus.Soon she will join Haredim
It's not the actual films by Israeli artists that were boycotted, it was the idea to showcase the city of Tel Aviv without any criticism of the occupation. I personnally appreciate the films of many Israeli filmmakers, but this is not about them.
Good for them. Atleast they have the moral conscience and strenghth not be sucked in by the moral hypocrits as Jane Fonda and the others. Those that support this boycott are pathetic with a vendetta against Jews and Israel and not about supporting a moral cause.
Of course the Hollywood Jews will support Israel, even ahead of their own country. It doesn't matter that a UN report accused Israel of committing " war crimes" against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, Israel can do no wrong according to their Jewish supporters.Unfortunately, US taxpayers are forced to finance the warmongering nation of Israel by our spineless politicians.
It's not to late to make a statement in support of airing Israel's dirty laundry. No one is opposed to Israeli films or Israeli filmmakers. Or Israelis. The point is to draw attention to the atrocities of the Israeli government committed against Gazans. Don't be intimidated by Seinfeld or Bruno. Sign the letter. I belong to the organization Jewish Voice for Peace. www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org. We support the letter. Don't be scammed. The letter "Toronto Declaration: No Celebration of Occupation" does NOT call for any boycotts.
Make big noise when complaining about Jews, and apologize long after the fact in the back pages.
"I signed the letter without reading it carefully enough, without asking myself if some of the wording wouldn't exacerbate the situation rather than bring about constructive dialogue"...that's "Just Jane's" explanation-a pathetic effort. Jane ought to go find an anti-aircraft gun she can sit on and meditate. Her idiocy is shared by most leftist liberals suffering from a self-induced virus that affects thought.
Well done. We have to fight those who distort facts and try to dehumanise us.
"Meanwhile, Jane Fonda, who had initially opposed the spotlight on Tel Aviv at the festival, Tuesday released a statement that she had changed her mind." Best she could do after learning that her boycott was soundly defeated by Jewish Toronto residents and others around the world buying up tickets specifically to spite her and her weird friends. What a hoot.