Prof. Rivka Carmi (L) and Natalie Portman
Photo: Naama Gibori, Getty Images
Genesis Prize committee member: Disappointed with Portman, PM should be respected
Ben Gurion University President Prof. Carmi criticizes Israeli-American actress who chose to decline to receive award over PM Netanyahu's participation in event, says she believes Portman knew PM would be attending, wonders 'who gave her that ill advice.'
President of Ben Gurion University Prof. Rivka Carmi, who is also a member of the Genesis Prize's committee, responded Sunday to actress Natalie Portman's decision to decline the award,
and said, "I'm as disappointed as anyone else. I think she made a mistake, and I truly wonder who gave her that ill advice."
The Israeli-American Academy Award winner initially claimed she could not accept the award because "recent events in Israel greatly distressed" her and she "did not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel."
Natalie Portman (Photo: GettyImages)
Early Sunday, however, she published another statement in which she claimed her refusal stemmed from her unwillingness to show public support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will be speaking at the award ceremony.
In a Ynet studio interview, the Genesis Prize committee member said Portman was selected to begin with because she was a "highly esteemed, well-known actress. She's a role model for people young and old alike, and she's an Israeli Jew who has made it."
"In that regard," Prof. Carmi added, "she certainly meets the prize's criteria."
Prof. Rivka Carmi (Photo: Dani Machlis, Ben-Gurion University)
Carmi then shined a light on the process behind selecting a winner, saying, "Winning is a multistep process, with a very thorough vetting process of nominees and work with them, letting them know the specifics of the prize, the idea behind it, the process and what it entails—including the matter of the Jerusalem ceremony and, to my knowledge, the fact that the prime minister will also be attending."
The panel member nevertheless qualified her statement by mentioning she was not aware whether Portman specifically was forewarned the premier will attend, but said, "I have a feeling she did know, but I don't want to say something categorical on the matter."
Carmi said she believed Portman knew of PM Netanyahu's participation in the ceremony (Photo: Herzliya Studios)
"Value-wise, we live in a democratic country with an elected prime minister. We are entitled to criticize, and any people liking or not liking (Netanyahu) are beside the point. He is the prime minister of Israel and we have to respect and welcome him, or the word democracy is voided of meaning," she iterated.
Before concluding her interview, Carmi said she was not of the opinion that the prize committee will reconvene to select a substitute winner to replace Portman.
She did, however, announce her satisfaction with being able to confer a lifetime achievement award on US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a "Jewish supporter of Israel who will be coming to Jerusalem to receive this award."
