- Title: ISRAEL-MICHAEL DOUGLAS Michael Douglas receives honourary award in Jerusalem
- Date: 18th June 2015
- Summary: JAFFA, ISRAEL (JUNE 17, 2015) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO "PERES CENTRE FOR PEACE" SIGN READING IN HEBREW, ARABIC AND ENGLISH 'PERES CENTRE FOR PEACE'
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7BHQNYBPF3A1IH29CNU3UE1TR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: American actor Michael Douglas was honoured in Jerusalem on Thursday (June 18) by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who awarded him the "Genesis" prize, which media has referred to as "the Jewish Nobel Prize."
According to The Genesis Prize website, it honours individuals "who have attained excellence and international renown in their chosen professional fields, and who inspire others through their engagement and dedication to the Jewish community and/or the State of Israel".
The ceremony was hosted by iconic American television celebrity Jay Leno.
Local media said that Douglas intends to use the $1 million prize, endowed by the Genesis Prize Foundation and doubled by philanthropists, to reach out to other Jews from intermarried families seeking a connection to the community.
Douglas voiced gratitude for the honour and also thanked his family, saying: "Most of all though I want to thank Catherine, Dylan and Carys. Seeing them here tonight means so much to me. They inspire me. They inspire me, they challenge me and they know that no husband and father could love them more."
Netanyahu told him: "I applaud you (referring to Michael Douglas) and I think this is the most important thing, for setting an example to jews everywhere, to stand tall and stand proud. Be proud Jews."
Before the ceremony, Douglas' family met Netanyahu and his wife Sarah at their residence in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday (June 17), Douglas participated in a panel discussion about regional peace with former Israeli president Shimon Peres.
Asked what he would say in a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, Douglas replied: "I would ask them (lawmakers), regardless of what party they are in, what is the narrative of Israel? I don't know it exactly. I hear this and I ask a lot of people now on the future. I think some of our adversaries have defined a cleared narrative and defined it more clearly than Israel has. I'm concerned on this boycott issue and I don't feel comfortable with the response. And I would hope that the Knesset can come together as one and not argue and fight about individual issue the way that happens and so self destructive in my own country, and can see beyond that into the crisis, the external crisis that do exist. And could get a clear message that they could share with the rest of the world," adding that the movie industry in Hollywood was always supportive of the Jewish state.
Douglas also shared what he called his "deepest and biggest" concern regarding the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran.
"Clearly, if the Middle East got into a situation where Iran continued to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would have very easy option of calling up Pakistan and we could just go on from there. And for me personally this to me with all the chaos that exists in the Middle East is my deepest and biggest concern,"he said.
Douglas was the second laureate of the "Genesis Prize", which was awarded to former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg last year.
Douglas arrived in Israel earlier this week with his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their children. Douglas attended various events and also held a family tour of Jerusalem old walled city, where they also celebrated their son's Bar Mitzvah last year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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