Jon Voight has never been shy to share his political views and he certainly doesn’t mind responding to his fellow celebrities. After several Spanish stars - including Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem - signed a letter condemning Israel’s current actions in Gaza, Voight responded with a stern letter, telling them they should “hang your heads in shame.”
Last week, Europapress published quotes from a letter signed by Bardem, Cruz, Rosa Maria Sarda, Lola Herrera and Eduardo Noriega, along with director Pedro Almodovar. They called Israel’s attacks in Gaza against Hamas “genocide” and asked the European Union to condemn what Israel is doing.
“Gaza is living through horror these days, besieged and attacked by land, sea and air. Palestinians' homes are being destroyed, they are being denied water, electricity [and] free movement to their hospitals, schools and fields while the international community does nothing,” their letter read.
Now, in an open letter to The Hollywood Reporter, Voight showed anger towards the celebrities, beginning with, “My name is Jon Voight and I am more than angry, I am heartsick that people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem could incite anti-Semitism all over the world and are oblivious to the damage they have caused.”
The Ray Donovan star proceeded to recount how Israel has tried for peace with its neighbors repeatedly. He also suggested that Bardem and Cruz forgot what started this battle - Hamas’ kidnapping of three young teenagers.
“I am asking all my peers who signed that poison letter against Israel to examine their motives,” Voight wrote. “Can you take back the fire of anti-Semitism that is raging all over the world now?”
He later noted, “You had a great responsibility to use your celebrity for good. Instead, you have defamed the only democratic country of goodwill in the Middle East: Israel.”
Voight, who is Angelina Jolie’s father, concluded his letter by writing, “You should hang your heads in shame. You should all come forth with deep regrets for what you did, and ask forgiveness from the suffering people in Israel.”
Bardem and Cruz later released statements clarifying their beliefs on Israel, notes Deadline. The married couple noted that they do support peace and Bardem said that he detests anti-Semitism.
“I was raised to be against any act of violence, and the consequent suffering of humanity for it, regardless of religions, ethnicities and borders,” Bardem noted. “Too many innocent Palestinian mothers have lost their children to this conflict. Too many innocent Israeli mothers share the same grief.”
image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com