Genesis Prize cancels ceremony after Natalie Portman said she won’t visit Israel

[Aboa]

What is going on over there is shocking to some who believe Israel is better than what is happening right now.

One would hope it would be better given history, but the Israeli government often displays a noxious mix of colonialism, revanchism, and militarism. That is why what is going on doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that others are surprised. I am not surprised that a celebrity thinks their attendance at an event unrelated to what is happening in Gaza matters one way or another.

Usually the prize has been handed out by Netanyahu personally, she might feel some aversion to hobnobbing with him.