James Caan: “I’m Very Pro-Israel, And I Can’t Like Anybody Who Isn’t”

I already posted about Hollywood actor James Caan being in Israel as special guest of the Israel Tourism Ministry and The Albert Einstein Foundation for Science and Philosophy of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Since he’s been here, he has firmed up his credentials as a badass – and huge supporter of the Jewish state.

James Caan
Courtesy Or Gefen

That pisses me off when they talk about all these Hollywood liberals,” he said. “There’s a whole bunch of us who are conservative. I find it offensive when actors go on news shows and spout their political views. They don’t exactly have political science degrees, who cares what they think?” Referring to politics in the Middle East, Caan said that he admired Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he was planning to have an audience later in his trip.

“He’s a tough guy in a sense, a real guy,” said Caan, who should know something about tough guys, having appeared as one in dozens of films in a diverse career that has also seen him play romantic leads (Chapter Two), sports heroes (Brian’s Song) and scores of offbeat character roles.

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The Brooklyn-raised Caan, whose parents were German immigrants, does feel good about finally making it to Israel, where he is a guest of the Tourism Ministry, the Einstein Fund and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.“My family wasn’t very religious – we were a little rough around the edges. Our rabbi came to my mother to talk about me and my brother and he said to her, ‘if there were two more Jews like your boys, I’d be a priest.’ “But at times, I’m super-religious because I feel such a strong connection to Israel. If Israel is at war, then I’m at war…

I’m very pro-Israel, and I can’t like anybody who isn’t,” said Caan, who visited the Kotel, put on tefillin, and met with the rabbi of the Western Wall, Shmuel Rabinowitz.

As for what he means by “pro-Israel” he clearly takes Israel’s security seriously.

“The European and American demands to return to the 1967 borders — aren’t sensible, and I object strongly to those demands,” he said.

Meanwhile, my friend Chaya saw him at the Einstein Archives where he visited with his son Jacob. In her words “Two really nice guys.”

james caan poster 2

Update: The video:

4 thoughts on “James Caan: “I’m Very Pro-Israel, And I Can’t Like Anybody Who Isn’t””

  1. Very happy to read his words, but am always confused by his and everyone’s assumption that support for Israel and Zionism is a conservative value.

    It’s complicated because the definition of social justice and liberalism has been hijacked. That’s how we see the phenomena of people who claim to be supporters of freedom, and then condemn Jews for having the audacity to want to live in Judea or to visit their most important heritage sites. The phenomena of people who can’t see that in the same way that LGBT folks should have the right to live where they want and to have parades in safety, that Jews should have the right to visit the Temple Mount …. and live in Khevron, and in Alon Shvut, and in Tekoa, etc., etc. ….. where they want …. in safety.

    No liberal anywhere would have the gall to suggest that an Arab Muslim shouldn’t be allowed to live in Saudi Arabia, where their people became a people …. so why are we so accepting that liberals suggest that Israeli Jews shouldn’t be allowed to live in Judea, or in Samaria, where our people became a people?

    Because the conception of what is a “liberal” has been distorted. Just as the conception of what is a “conservative.” And of what is a Zionist.

    It’s entirely liberal to be Zionist, to want freedom and self-determination and social justice for the Jewish people. Along with all other people. In peace.

    Just sayin’.

    1. Liberals anywhere would not say that Muslim Arabs can’t live in Saudi Arabia, but the fact is that most Muslim Arabs, or even Suni Muslim Arabs are not allowed to just move to Saudi Arabia (case in point: Syria, Iraq). Granted, for a completely different reason. Part of it, is that these “liberals” have nothing to fear in criticising Jews, but criticising Muslims, (eg for not doing enough to take in more refugees with similar cultural identities,) is a quite a different story.

  2. t is refreshing to hear about conservatives in Hollywood, such as Caan and James Woods, but we don’t hear nearly enough. Unfortunately, in America today, celebrities are viewed as “opinion makers” and Caan is correct that it is not clear why this should be, but since that is the situation, it is good to see people like Caan going public

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