http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2746
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2508
Ireland’s Jewish community has been left deeply angered by the Irish Film and Television Awards decision to honour film star Mel Gibson.
The Hollywood star is expected in Dublin for the ceremony next Sunday — but a leading Rabbi living in Ireland has launched a scathing attack on the decision to make the award in the light of Gibson’s widely publicised anti-Semitic comments made while he was drunk.
Gibson is to receive the Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema Award at the 5th Annual IFTA ceremony in Dublin later this month.
The actor-turned-director was embroiled in controversy in 2006 after he allegedly launched an anti-Semitic http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2818 on police officers who had arrested him for driving while drunk.”F***ing Jews . . . Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” Gibson was reported as saying, before asking one of the officers if he was a Jew.
Speaking shortly after IFTA’s announcement, the Rabbi, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke of his anger at the decision.
“We find it very puzzling. He has made blatant anti-Semitic remarks and you’d think they’d give him a miss this year. It is quite surprising. An Irish organisation is giving this award? Obviously they need to educate themselves about what he said.
“It’s not just anti-Semitism, if someone is involved with racist remarks or sectarian remarks they shouldn’t be receiving awards. It’s very strange. I think they should reconsider their decision. This is someone who is obviously a very famous figure, making very public remarks involving racism; they shouldn’t be receiving public accolades and awards.”
The Rabbi went on to say: “Maybe they could have a look at the actual text. See the harm and the pain that he has caused and reassess their decision.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has become embroiled in the controversy after it emerged that it has been named as an official partner of the ceremony at the Gaiety theatre in Dublin next Sunday, February 17.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/irish-jewish-community-condemns-gibson-award-1286377.html