Hollywood Celebrates Israel

By Nathan Burstein September 11, 2008

Four months after most of the festivities have concluded, Hollywood is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary, honoring the country with an A-list fundraiser to be held September 18 on the Paramount Pictures lot. Oscar winners Warren Beatty, Kevin Spacey and Oliver Stone will join supermodel Heidi Klum and TV stars Jason Alexander and Kiefer Sutherland at the event, a dinner co-hosted by Israel’s Los Angeles consulate and by the Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel, a not-for-profit that promotes democracy and civic involvement.

“I’m sure we’ll have other confirmations,” said Yaakov Dayan, Israel’s consul general in Los Angeles, of the event’s celebrity guest list.

Likely to attract additional boldface names is another of the evening’s honorees, Arnon Milchan, an Israeli-born producer who will receive a lifetime achievement award for his work on such films as “Pretty Woman,” “L.A. Confidential” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” Stars of Milchan movies who have been invited but have not yet RSVP’d include Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Dayan said.

Israelis scheduled to fly in for the evening include Education Minister Yuli Tamir and former foreign and finance minister Silvan Shalom. Hip-hop artist Subliminal has signed on to perform, and taped remarks about Milchan and Israel’s 60th anniversary will be delivered by President Shimon Peres, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Proceeds from the $1,000-a-plate dinner will be allocated to Israeli youth organizations working to develop leadership and democratic values among students of different social and ethnic backgrounds.

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