Natalie Portman pulls out of Israel award due to 'distressing recent events' there
Portman, who was born in Israel and has duel Israeli and American citizenship, did not specify which "recent events" were the catalyst for her decision, though she is not the first performer to cancel public appearances in Israel due to protests over the country's ongoing conflict with Palestinians.
At least 34 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire since the protests began.
Portman's decision to not attend the ceremony comes just days after the European Union called for an official investigation into Israel's use of live ammunition against Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border.
The foundation behind the prestigious Genesis Prize says this year's victor, Natalie Portman, has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel, quoting a representative for the US actress as saying recent events in Israel were "extremely distressing to her".
The event has now been cancelled, the Genesis Prize Foundation said.
An email to Portman's publicist in Los Angeles seeking further information was not immediately answered.
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The Genesis Foundation did not indicate whether Portman would still receive the prize money in light of her announcement.
Palestinians say protesters are being shot while posing no threat to soldiers, while the European Union and United Nations chief Antonio Guterres have called for an independent investigation. Israel has maintained that its soldiers only fired on those deemed a threat to its troops or the border fence.
Portman, who was born in Jerusalem and moved to the US when she was 3 years old, has previously voiced her opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The foundation said the actor's prize fund had been doubled to $2 million by Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn. Portman said she would give the money to programmes furthering women's equality, according to the foundation. In a 2015 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she had said, "I'm very much against Netanyahu".
The prize recognizes Jewish achievement and contributions to humanity.
Previous recipients Consist of sculptor Anish Kapoor, celebrity Michael Douglas, violinist Itzhak Perlman along with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In response, the foundation issued a press release saying it is disappointed in Portman's refusal to attend the ceremony "for political reasons". "We anxiety that Ms. Portman's choice will create our brand new initiative to be politicized, something we have worked hard for the past five years to avert", it claimed.
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