Before a couple of days ago, Israeli actor Aki Avni’s main claim to fame outside of Israel was playing Arab terrorists in series such as 24.
Now, he may be remembered as the guy who kissed Natalie Portman near the Western Wall, and almost got his head ripped off for his troubles.
Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jewish worshippers angrily confronted actress Natalie Portman and her co-star, objecting to scenes of the couple kissing during the filming of a movie scene beside Jerusalem’s Western Wall, police said.The incident Tuesday evening underlined the sensitivity of the site, a remnant of the biblical Jewish temples, the holiest place where Jews can pray.The site is controlled by strictly observant Jews. Male and female worshippers are separated by a barrier perpendicular to the wall, following Orthodox Jewish rules forbidding casual contact between the sexes.Police said they had to step in when worshippers spotted Portman and Israeli actor Aki Avni embracing and kissing as part of a scene in their film, “Free Zone.” The daily Yediot Ahronot said ultra-Orthodox Jews charged the actors, shouting ,”Immoral, immoral!”Police said they asked the actors to leave and return later, and they agreed.
The New York Post has a slightly different version:
“Whores! Whores!” chanted dozens of Orthodox Jewish men, the paper reported. The cast and crew packed up abruptly and fled.
‘Whores! Whores!”? Maybe it was all a big misunderstanding. The Orthodox men may have recognized Natalie from Star Wars and screamed out “Force! Force!”
Or not.
Afterthought: I wonder if anyone was able to see it on Kotel Cam.
