Spanish movie stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem may be fine actors, but their understanding of current events in the Middle East is nothing short of abysmal.
Recently, they added their names to a vitriolic open letter, signed by dozens of artists in Spain, denouncing Israel’s just military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Calling the situation in Gaza “difficult to understand and impossible to justify,” the letter writers, including the film director Pedro Almodovar, expressed indignation that Western leaders had allowed “such a genocide” to take place, and urged Israel to lift its naval siege of Gaza.
Tellingly enough, they omitted the inconvenient fact that Hamas had ignited the war by indiscriminately firing hundreds of rockets into Israel, thereby committing a war crime under international law.
In a heart-felt retort, American actor John Voight hit back.
Voight warned Cruz and Bardem that they, among others, may be held responsible for helping to incite a wave of antisemitism that has washed over Europe since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8.
Accusing them of being “obviously ignorant” of ceaseless Arab attempts to destroy the world’s only Jewish state, he reminded them that Hamas has launched thousands of rockets against Israel since it took full charge of Gaza in 2007. “Instead of my peers sticking up for the only democratic country in the region,” Voight observes, “they go and (sign) a poison (letter) against (Israel).”
Voight could have said more, much more.
First, the war in Gaza is not “difficult to understand.” Hamas, which opposes a two-state solution, initiated it as part of its futile, nihilistic and rejectionist struggle to destroy Israel.
Second, the military measures Israel has taken in self-defence are not “impossible to justify.” Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, razing its settlements there, in the hope that its withdrawal would promote the cause of peace. In retrospect, it was a forlorn hope. Hamas, having seized Gaza from Fatah, turned it into an armed camp bristling with attack tunnels, fortifications and rocket launchers.
Instead of working day and night to develop Gaza for the betterment of its 1.7 million inhabitants, Hamas poured scarce resources into arming itself for the next round of hostilities with Israel.
Are Cruz and Bardem aware of these facts? Do they even care?
Worse still, they describe Israel’s necessary response to Hamas aggression as “genocide.” This is patently untrue and absurd. Do they not know that Hamas hews to a strategy of creating “martyrs,” the more the better, so as to bring opprobrium and condemnation of Israel? Hamas has intentionally embedded itself in civilian areas — residential buildings, schools, mosques and even hospitals — and when Israel fires back in retaliation, it is excoriated and condemned in reflexive fashion.
The deaths of more than 1,700 Palestinians is extremely regrettable, and compassionate people should be concerned by this horrible and unnecessary loss of life. But Hamas, intent on promoting a culture of death, brought this upon itself and the long-suffering Palestinians of Gaza.
In any event, what is happening in Gaza today is hardly genocide — not by any stretch of the imagination. Nazi Germany practised genocide by systematically targeting Jews, all Jews, for destruction. Israel’s policy is and has always been to coexist with the Palestinians. Hamas rejects coexistence and is dedicated to the folly of armed struggle against Israel. So it is written in its antisemitic charter.
Cruz and Bardem, having reconsidered their hasty and shallow condemnation of Israel, have since clarified their views. Cruz now admits that she’s “aware of the complexity” of the Arab-Israeli conflict,” while Bardem claims he has “great respect for the people of Israel and deep compassion for their losses.” He adds that he “detests” antisemitism.
Their new position should be applauded and accepted at face value, even if it is driven by ulterior motives. In the meantime, the damage has been done. Cruz and Bardem, wallowing in ignorance, have poisoned many minds, not only in Spain, but elsewhere on the European continent.
The lesson here should be clear.
In the future, celebrities like Cruz and Bardem, who possess the power to sway and influence thousands of people, should keep their ill-informed and destructive opinions to themselves.