Over US 150 film stars, directors support Israeli actors' boycott of settlement

Ma'an - Following the movement of Israeli theater professionals who authored a letter refusing to perform in the settlement of Ariel, American counterparts have come together with their own statement of support.

"As American actors, directors, critics and playwrights, we salute our Israeli counterparts for their courageous decision," the letter says.

Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish-American organization, the statement has been signed by over 150 theater and film professionals representing some influential artists in theater and film.

Among them are [Vanessa Redgrave], "Sex and the City"'s Cynthia Nixon, playwright Tony Kushner, 21-time Tony winner for productions of "The Pajama Game" to "Phantom of the Opera" Harold Prince, star of the film "Yentl," Mandy Patinkin, and Cameri co-founder Theodore Bikel.

"The response of American artists to the courageous actions of their Israeli counterparts is just phenomenal. It is especially notable that so many of the signatories are Jewish Americans with long-standing connections to Israel," Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said in a statement.

"We hope that the strong show of solidarity by Americans in response to these brave Israelis will help spark a new conversation in both countries, one that acknowledges that the Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are illegal by every measure of international law, contribute to the daily violation of human rights of Palestinians, and are a major obstacle to a just peace in the region."

The original Israeli actors' letter was widely criticized the Israeli public and government including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who at the beginning of last week's cabinet meeting denounced the initiative.

“The State of Israel is under an attack of delegitimization by elements in the international community. This attack includes attempts to enact economic, academic and cultural boycotts. The last thing we need at this time is to be under such an attack,” The Jerusalem Post, an English-language Israeli daily, quoted him as saying.

STATEMENT:

On August 27th, dozens of Israeli actors, directors, and playwrights made the brave decision not to perform in Ariel, one of the largest of the West Bank settlements, which by all standards of international law are clearly illegal. As American actors, directors, critics and playwrights, we salute our Israeli counterparts for their courageous decision.

Most of us are involved in daily compromises with wrongful acts. When a group of people suddenly have the clarity of mind to see that the next compromise looming up before them is an unbearable one -- and when they somehow find the strength to refuse to cross that line -- we can't help but be overjoyed and inspired and grateful.

It's thrilling to think that these Israeli theatre artists have refused to allow their work to be used to normalize a cruel occupation which they know to be wrong, which violates international law and which is impeding the hope for a just and lasting peace for Israelis an Palestinians alike. They've made a wonderful decision, and they deserve the respect of people everywhere who dream of justice. We stand with them.

Signatories...


Vanessa Redgrave
Cynthia Nixon
Ed Asner
Tony Kushner
Theodore Bikel
Jennifer Tilly
Miriam Margolyes
Harold Prince
Mandy Patinkin
Wallace Shawn
James Schamus
Eve Ensler
Liz Diamond
Andre Gregory
Lynn Nottage
Sheldon Harnick
Paula Vogel
Bill Irwin
David Adjmi
Najla Said
Bruce Allardice
Philip Arnoult
Anthony Arnove
Caron Atlas
Arthur Aviles
David Barlow
Laura Barnett
George Bartenieff
Mark Barton
John Bell
Melia Bensussen
Eric Bentley
Theodore S. Berger
Susan Bernfield
Philip Bither
James Bundy
Kathleen Chalfant
Linda Chapman
Rachel Chavkin
Trudi Cohen
Kia Corthron
Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas
Clare Coss
Alex Courtney
Tim Cusack
Savitri D.
Matthew Dellapina
Ivor Dembina
David J. Diamond
Elin Diamond
Sally Eberhardt
Edward Einhorn
Deborah Eisenberg
John Clinton Eisner
Oskar Eustis
Bertie Ferdman, PhD
Corey Fischer
Elinor Fuchs
Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros
Adam Greenfield
David Greenspan
Kathryn Grody
Jason Grote
Del Hamilton
Karen Hartman
David Herskovits
Joan Holden
Jeffrey Horowitz
Holly Hughes
Birgit Huppuch
Julia Jarcho
Morgan Jenness
John Jesurun
Jeffrey M. Jones
Melanie Joseph
Chris Kam
Stephen Kaplin
Melissa Kievman
Josh Kornbluth
Aaron Landsman
Paul Lazar
Herbert Leibowitz
Maxinne Rhea Leighton
Robert H. Leonard
Gideon Lester
Roberta Levitow
Irene Lewis
Ethan Lipton
Casey Llewellyn
Quincy Long
John Carroll Lynch
Kirk Lynn
Matthew Maguire
Matthew Maher
Judith Malina
Karen Malpede
Nina Mankin
Emily Mann
Deborah Margolin
Vijay Mathew
Marin Mazzie
Ellen McLaughlin
Erin Mee
Greg Mehrten
David Michalek
Tyler Micoleau
Tim Miller
Jennifer Miller
Steve Moore
Susan Mosakowski
David Moscow
Erika Munk
Tom Nelis
Jim Nicola
Annie-B Parson
Sally Ann Parsons
Shailja Patel
Katie Pearl
Sybille Pearson
Ralph Pena
Carla Peterson
Brian Pickett
Catherine Porter
Ruth Reichl
Reno
Gordon Rogoff
Jenny Romaine
Avital Ronell
Ken Rus Schmoll
Brian H. Scott
Regine Anna Seckinger, PhD
Jamil Shamasdin
Peggy Shaw
Christopher Shinn
Sarah Schulman
Jeanmarie Simpson
Michael Singer
Alisa Solomon
Bonnie Stein
Kris Stone
Mark Sussman
Caridad Svich
Bill Talen
Kathleen Tolan
Basil Twist
Charlie Varon
Naomi Wallace
Anne Washburn
Donya K. Washington
Stephen Webber
Brenda Wehle
Mac Wellman
Anabelle Winograd
Eunice Wong
Kristina Wong
Susan Yankowitz
David Zellnick