An Israeli lawmaker is demanding that Jerusalem-born Natalie Portman‘s citizenship be revoked after the actress refused to travel to the country to accept the “Jewish Nobel,” an award this year with a $2 million prize — that it appears she’ll be keeping.
“We have not received any information of the sort,” a source at the Genesis Prize Foundation told Israeli news outlet Haaretz when asked whether the actress would return the money.
The source said that Portman’s letter notifying the foundation of her decision to boycott the ceremony because of “recent events” did not refer at all to the prize money.
Following her announcement, the foundation canceled the ceremony, which was slated to be held June 28 in Jerusalem, where Portman was born in 1981.
The foundation announced in November that Portman — who left Israel with her parents at age 3 — had been selected its 2018 laureate and would receive a $1 million cash prize.
“Natalie’s charismatic on-screen presence has touched the hearts of millions,” the organization said in a statement. “Her talent, her commitment to social causes and her deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots are greatly admired.”
A month later, Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn said he would pledge another $1 million in Portman’s honor.
In a letter explaining her decision, Portman’s rep said that “recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel.”
Portman did not specify what she was distressed about, although the UN and the European Union recently called for probes into the use of live ammo by Israeli troops in clashes with Palestinians that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded.
Previous winners – including former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and actor Michael Douglas — have donated their prizes to charitable causes.
Portman had already notified the foundation that she intended to donate her money to organizations that promote women’s rights, with a special focus on Israel, Haaretz reported.
Meanwhile, Likud member Oren Hazan blasted the actress, saying: “From the outset, the idea of granting the Genesis Prize to Natalie Portman was complete craziness.”
“[She is] a Jewish Israeli, who on the one hand cynically uses her birthplace to advance her career and on the other is proud of the fact that she managed to avoid enlisting in the IDF,” he continued, the Times of Israel reported.
“She’s an actress, but she is unworthy of any honor in the State of Israel,” Hazan said. “Sweetness can come from strength: I call on Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to rescind Portman’s Israeli citizenship. She left Israel at age four, and has no real connection to the State.”
Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev, also a member of the governing Likud, said she “was very sorry to hear that Portman fell like a ripe fruit into the hands of BDS supporters” — referring to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign that seeks to isolate the Jewish state.
“Natalie, a Jewish actress who was born in Israel, joins those who see the story of the wondrous success of the rebirth of Israel as a story of darkness and darkness,” Regev said in reference to Portman’s flick “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
The foundation was notified of Portman’s boycott more than a week ago but kept the news under wraps until late Thursday, presumably to avoid marring Israel’s Independence Day festivities.
Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, who received the Israel Prize on Thursday, headed the selection committee that chose Portman as this year’s laureate.
Sharansky declined to comment about her decision not to attend the ceremony.
He reps did not respond to messages for comment.