Natalie Portman has pulled out of a major award ceremony due to take place in Israel, citing her “distress” at recent events in the country.
However, Portman informed the Genesis Prize Foundation she would not travel to Israel for the ceremony, which has been cancelled.
No specific events were mentioned, but the recent military response to Palestinian demonstrations on the Gaza-Israel border has provoked worldwide condemnation.
Portman’s representative said: “[R]ecent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel” and that “she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony”.