Wonder Woman v Bibi? Gal Gadot defends TV host berated by Israeli PM

RT
Mon, 11 Mar 2019 16:05 UTC

© Global Look Press / PLANET PHOTOS; Reuters /Ammar Awad/File Photo

Israeli Hollywood star Gal Gadot, best known for her role as Wonder Woman, has swooped in to defend a TV host who came under fire from Benjamin Netanyahu for suggesting Israel is not for Jews alone.

The movie star spoke out after the prime minister criticized Israeli television presenter Rotem Sela for expressing solidarity with Arab-Israelis and arguing that Israel is a country "for all its citizens."

Netanyahu later issued a rebuke of Sela's comments, stating that "Israel is not a state of all its citizens. According to the Nation-State Law that we passed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, and them alone."

The prime minister's assertion apparently didn't sit well with Gadot, who shared her thoughts on the matter with her 28.3 million Instagram followers.

"Love thy neighbor as thyself," Gadot wrote in Hebrew. "It's not an issue of Right or Left, Jew or Arab, secular or religious. It's an issue of dialogue, of dialogue for peace, for equality, for tolerance between one another."

Gadot added that the "responsibility to grow hope and light for a better future for our children is on us. Rotem, my sister, you are an inspiration to us all."

Her statement was applauded by likeminded Israelis and Jewish activists.

"Israeli actresses Gal Gadot and Rotem Sela reminded Netanyahu that 20% of Israel's population is Arab citizens who deserve respect and equality. And this is big news in Israel today. Imagine the potential if many leading actors, artists, academics etc. would consistently protest," Israeli-American journalist Mairav Zonszein tweeted in response to the controversy.

However, some urged the Hollywood star to be more vocal about her views, encouraging Gadot to do more than just post on Instagram.

Comment: Apparently other Israeli stars have been emboldened to speak up. When you lose the celebrities, you know you've got problems.

Celebrity actress Rotem Sela believes that there is nothing wrong with Arabs living in the country, since Israel is a "country for all its citizens" without exception, with the statement prompting a correction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State of Israel belongs solely to the Jews, with his statement coming in response to a comment by Israeli actress Rotem Sela on the Israeli culture minister's recent interview.

"Miri Regev sits there and explains to Rina Matzliach that the public needs to watch out, because if Benny Gantz is elected he'll need to form a government with Arabs", Sela wrote in her Instagram story, to the joy of her over 800,000-strong army of followers.

"Rina Matzliach stayed silent. And I ask myself why Rina doesn't ask her in shock - 'and what's the problem with Arabs???' Oh my god, there are also Arab citizens in this country", she wrote, stressing that Israel is "a country for all its citizens".

"And every person was born equal. Arabs, too, God help us, are human beings. And so are the Druze. And so are gays, by the way, and lesbians, and...shock...leftists", she said, admitting though, that despite "disgusting comments", she treats everyone with affection.

The comments prompted Benjamin Netanyahu to respond on Sunday: he uploaded a snapshot of himself posing in front of an Israeli flag, captioning the picture as follows:

"Dear Rotem, an important correction: Israel is not a state of all its citizens. According to the Nation-State Law that we passed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish People - and them alone. As you wrote, there's no problem with the Arab citizens of Israel - they have the same rights as us all and the Likud government has invested in the Arab sector more than any other government".

He continued by saying that Likud only seeks to sharpen "the central point of these elections: it's either a strong right-wing government led by me, or Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz's left-wing government with the support of the Arab parties".

He went on to state that Lapid and Gantz have no other way to form a government, while a government "like this will undermine the security of the state and citizens". "The decision - another month at the ballot box. Have a nice day", he rounded off.

The culture minister also weighed in on the debate, addressing Rotem on Sunday: "We don't have a problem with Arabs. Our party has more than a few Arab, Druze, and Christian members. We have a problem with the hypocrisy and masquerade of Lapid and Gantz, who are trying with all their might to hide from the public that they are the left disguised as the centre", he was cited by Israeli media as saying.

Crowds, however, rushed to throw their weight behind the Israeli actress on Twitter, applauding her bravery vis-à-vis "religious extremist Netanyahu":

There were those, meanwhile, who would more likely appreciate Netanyahu's stance: