Jon Voight gives fellow celebrities an Israeli history lesson in the Hollywood Reporter, says he is ‘heartsick’ about anti-Semitism perpetuated by them

Jon Voight has never been one to stew quietly. When he gets mad, he speaks out, as he did in a letter to the Hollywood Reporter Saturday.

The actor wrote a response to a letter denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza, which was signed by dozens of Spanish celebrities, including Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Pedro Almodovar.

“I am more than angry, I am heartsick that people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem could incite anti-Semitism all over the world and are oblivious to the damage they have caused,” Voight wrote.

He used the letter to provide some background for the conflict in the Middle East, starting with what he called “the whole story of Israel’s birth” after the Second World War. The letter strove to show that Israel had faced existential threats since its inception and had survived only because of military actions similar to the one happening in Gaza right now.

Voight shamed his fellow stars for failing to stand beside Israel.

“After years of trying to make peace, the wars they [the Israelis] had to fight, being attacked by their enemies, and still being attacked, and finally after years of running into bomb shelters and having hundreds of civilians killed by suicide bombers, civilians being killed in their sleep, stabbed to pieces, finding enough is enough and finally retaliating, instead of my peers sticking up for the only democratic country in that region, they go and take out poison letters against them,” wrote Voight.

Voight took his criticism a step further than just a critique of their knowledge of history. He finished by challenging them to take responsibility for what they said, conclusing with harsh words for the Spanish stars:

“I am asking all my peers who signed that poison letter against Israel to examine their motives. Can you take back the fire of anti-Semitism that is raging all over the world now?

You have been able to become famous and have all your monetary gains because you are in a democratic country: America. Do you think you would have been able to accomplish this in Iran, Syria, Lebanon, et cetera? You had a great responsibility to use your celebrity for good. Instead, you have defamed the only democratic country of goodwill in the Middle East: Israel.

You should hang your heads in shame. You should all come forth with deep regrets for what you did, and ask forgiveness from the suffering people in Israel.”