BROKERING MID-EAST PEACE Hollywood wants in on the act

The Straits Times ^ | 10/26/03 | unknown

[beaversmom]

BROKERING MID-EAST PEACE Hollywood wants in on the act

JERUSALEM - Where presidents and prime ministers have failed, Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt and wife Jennifer Anniston hope their star power will work wonders in new roles as Middle East peace envoys.

They will team up with other actors such as Edward Norton, Jason Alexander and Danny DeVito on a private mission to help resolve the Israeli-Arab conflict.

'The past few years of conflict mean that yet another generation of Israelis and Palestinians will grow up in hatred,' said a statement from Pitt and Aniston. 'We cannot allow that to happen.'

London's Sunday Telegraph said it was not clear how the stars intended to stop the escalating violence but their strategy was to appeal to the man in the street.

Pitt and Aniston believe the region's war-weary inhabitants want a negotiated settlement and they think direct appeals to 'ordinary folk' can bring the warring parties together, the paper said.

But with no sign of the bloodshed easing after the collapse of the latest US-led 'road map', Israelis and Palestinians dismiss the Hollywood initiative as naive.

For some, the prospect of DeVito talking peace with Hamas militants over a cup of tea, or Pitt breaking bread at a Sabbath dinner with hardline Jewish settlers, is ridiculous, the Telegraph said.

Israeli sociologist Oz Almog told the paper: 'Many Palestinians do not even have television sets. What's more, for the past three years here, no one has listened to anyone. So what makes these people think they will listen to Danny DeVito?'

The stars are among a group of actors, directors and writers who have signed up to the US$6.7 million (S$11.6 million) peace initiative called One Voice.

While organisers admit that none of the actors has any experience of the Middle East or of conflict resolution, they say this may help as they will be considered non-partisan.

Mr Mohammed Darawse, the Palestinian regional coordinator of the project, is convinced they can make a difference. He told the Telegraph: 'They asked intelligent questions when we met and they clearly know the big picture.'

[Lion in Winter]

Oh, come on is this from the ONION???

[Coroner]

I hope they go over there and meet up with the "palestinian welcoming committee". KABOOM!!!! Their egos are out of control!

[carlson]

Dont these people have to have 'professional' handlers and negotiators handle their own business?

Pretty basly to think they can negotiate a nations business.

[Fledermaus]

Let me guess, Jennifer is going to show them her breasts and they'll hug and sing Hari Krishna.