Natalie Portman has snubbed a prestigious prize known as the "Jewish Nobel" because of "extreme distress" over recent events in Israel, triggering an angry backlash Friday from some in the country's political establishment.
Portman was to have received the award in Israel in June, but told the Genesis Prize Foundation that she would "not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel." The movie star did not elaborate as to what had made her feel that way.
The country has faced international criticism over its use of lethal force in response to mass protests along the Gaza border led by Hamas, which rules the territory.
The Jerusalem-born Portman, a dual Israeli-American citizen, moved to the U.S. as a young girl. She received the 2011 best actress Oscar for "Black Swan," and, in 2015, she directed and starred in "Tale of Love and Darkness," a Hebrew-language film set in Israel based on an Amos Oz novel.
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," Azaria said in a statement. "She is totally one of us. She identifies with her Jewishness and Israeli-ness. She is expressing now the voices of many in U.S. 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." Oren Hazan, a legislator in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party, called on the government to revoke Portman's Israeli citizenship.
Popular dance DJ dies at age 28
Avicii, the Grammy-nominated electronic dance DJ who performed sold-out concerts for feverish fans around the world and also had massive success on U.S. pop radio, died Friday. He was 28. The Swedish performer, born Tim Bergling, was found dead in Muscat, Oman, his publicist said. No more details were provided. Avicii was an international pop star, performing his well-known electronic dance songs around the world for die-hard fans, sometimes hundreds of thousands at music festivals, where he was the headline act. His popular sound even sent him to the top of the charts and landed onto U.S. radio: His most recognized song, "Wake Me Up," was a multiplatinum success and peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. On the dance charts, he had seven Top 10 hits. In 2016, the performer announced he was retiring from the road, but continued to produce songs and albums. Avicii had in the past suffered acute pancreatitis, in part due to excessive drinking. After having his gallbladder and appendix removed in 2014, he canceled a series of shows in attempt to recover.
Associated Press
