Hollywood notables condemn Hamas and Hezbollah
{{date|August 17, 2006}}
[[Image:Nicole Kidman(CannesRed carpet).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Nicole Kidman {{Image source|[[Commons:User:Nikita|Rita Molnár]]}}]]
In a full-page ad in the ''[[w:Los Angeles Times|Los Angeles Times]]'', 85 top actors, directors and other [[w:Hollywood|Hollywood]] notables accused [[Hezbollah]] and [[w:Hamas|Hamas]] of being [[w:Terrorism|terrorist organisations]] and blamed them for the deaths of all the civilians in [[Lebanon]] and [[Israel]]; including the civilians that were killed by Israel's bombing of Lebanon.

The statement in the ad read as follows:
:''We the undersigned are pained and devastated by the civilian casualties in Israel and Lebanon caused by terrorist actions initiated by terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. If we do not succeed in stopping terrorism around the world, chaos will rule and innocent people will continue to die. We need to support democratic societies and stop terrorism at all costs.''

Among the signatories are famous actors such as: [[w:Michael Douglas|Michael Douglas]], [[w:Patricia Heaton|Patricia Heaton]], [[w:Dennis Hopper|Dennis Hopper]], [[w:William Hurt|William Hurt]], [[w:Don Johnson|Don Johnson]], [[w:Nicole Kidman|Nicole Kidman]], [[w:Michael Mann|Michael Mann]], [[w:Kelly Preston|Kelly Preston]], [[w:Sylvester Stallone|Sylvester Stallone]], [[w:Danny De Vito|Danny De Vito]], [[w:Bruce Willis|Bruce Willis]] and [[w:James Woods|James Woods]].

Also included were directors [[w:Dick Donner|Dick Donner]], [[w:Michael Mann (film director)|Michael Mann]], [[w:Sam Raimi|Sam Raimi]], [[w:Ridley Scott|Ridley Scott]] and [[w:Tony Scott|Tony Scott]].  Other influential Hollywood signatories include [[w:News Corporation|News Corporation]] chairman and chief executive [[w:Rupert Murdoch|Rupert Murdoch]], chairman and majority owner of [[w:Paramount Pictures|Paramount Pictures]] [[w:Sumner Redstone|Sumner Redstone]] and media mogul [[w:Haim Saban|Haim Saban]].

Although neither Hamas nor Hezbollah have responded directly to the statement, both organisations have previously insisted that they are not terror organisations, but merely legitimate resistance movements. 

[[w:Mahmoud al-Zahar|Mahmoud al-Zahar]], who is foreign minister of the [[w:Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian National Authority]] as well as a co-founder of Hamas and member of Hamas' leadership in the [[w:Gaza Strip|Gaza Strip]], has previously insisted his organisation has the "right to resist" Israeli attacks. He continued:
:''We are not playing at terrorism or violence. We are under occupation...The Israelis are continuing their aggression against our people, killing, detention, demolition and in order to stop these processes, we run effective self defence by all means, including using guns.''

Israeli [[w:Vice Premier of Israel#Vice Prime Minister|Vice Premier]] [[Shimon Peres]] had earlier persuaded Nicole Kidman to visit Israel and, during a conference held by Rupert Murdoch, said "Maybe you can be tourism ambassador to the Galilee."

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20157470-5005961,00.html
|author=Herald Sun correspondents in Los Angeles
|title=Kidman condemns Hamas, Hezbollah
|pub=Herald Sun
|date=August 17, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3544025
|title=Douglas, Willis and Kidman Unite Against Terrorism
|author=Wenn
|pub=Hollywood.com
|date=August 17, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20163411-5007132,00.html
|author=Peter Mitchell
|title=Nic and stars against terror
|pub=The Daily Telegraph
|date=August 17, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4653706.stm
|title=Profile: Hamas' Mahmoud Zahhar
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=January 27, 2006}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Hezbollah]]
[[Category:Shimon Peres]]
[[Category:Palestinian National Authority]]
Nicole Kidman 
In a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times, 85 top actors, directors and other Hollywood notables accused Hezbollah and Hamas of being terrorist organisations and blamed them for the deaths of all the civilians in Lebanon and Israel; including the civilians that were killed by Israel's bombing of Lebanon.

The statement in the ad read as follows:
:We the undersigned are pained and devastated by the civilian casualties in Israel and Lebanon caused by terrorist actions initiated by terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. If we do not succeed in stopping terrorism around the world, chaos will rule and innocent people will continue to die. We need to support democratic societies and stop terrorism at all costs.

Among the signatories are famous actors such as: Michael Douglas, Patricia Heaton, Dennis Hopper, William Hurt, Don Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Michael Mann, Kelly Preston, Sylvester Stallone, Danny De Vito, Bruce Willis and James Woods.

Also included were directors Dick Donner, Michael Mann, Sam Raimi, Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.  Other influential Hollywood signatories include News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch, chairman and majority owner of Paramount Pictures Sumner Redstone and media mogul Haim Saban.

Although neither Hamas nor Hezbollah have responded directly to the statement, both organisations have previously insisted that they are not terror organisations, but merely legitimate resistance movements. 

Mahmoud al-Zahar, who is foreign minister of the Palestinian National Authority as well as a co-founder of Hamas and member of Hamas' leadership in the Gaza Strip, has previously insisted his organisation has the "right to resist" Israeli attacks. He continued:
:We are not playing at terrorism or violence. We are under occupation...The Israelis are continuing their aggression against our people, killing, detention, demolition and in order to stop these processes, we run effective self defence by all means, including using guns.

Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres had earlier persuaded Nicole Kidman to visit Israel and, during a conference held by Rupert Murdoch, said "Maybe you can be tourism ambassador to the Galilee."
Politics and conflicts Culture and entertainment United States North America Hamas Hezbollah Shimon Peres Palestinian National Authority