Stone: Interested in the Middle East
צילום: איי אף פי
Sharon Stone to visit Israel
American actress to arrive for three day visit courtesy of Peres Center for Peace and Holon Woman's Festival
American actress Sharon Stone will arrive in Israel on March 8th as a guest of the Peres Center for Peace and the Holon Woman's Festival, which marks its 10th anniversary this year. This will be the Hollywood star's first visit to Israel, during which she is expected to tour Jerusalem, the Negev, Galilee and the Palestinian Authority.
Stone accepted the Peres Center's invitation to take part in the decennial celebrations of the festival, which will open under the headline – "Women lead change."
Stone, Peres, Hilary Clinton
During the festival the actress will take part in a panel focused on prominent women from different disciplines. The conference will be orchestrated by journalist Yifat Zamir, and will also include Shimon Peres, MK Yuli Tamir, Terry Bullatah (an educator from Ramallah who was active in the Geneva accords initiative), and Hillary Clinton, who will participate via satellite.
The artistic program will feature songs of peace by Israel's Shlomo Gronich and Palestinian singer Lubna Salameh, as well as monologues by Israeli and Palestinian actresses that take part in an educational project at the Peres Center for Peace.
"I am interested in what takes place in the Middle East, and in the chances for peace in the region," Stone told Shimon Peres in a telephone conversation this weekend. "This invitation is an opportunity for me to study the current situation up-close. I would be happy to take part in the festival."
Peres Center officials said the conversation was friendly and warm. Stone expressed interest in the political situation in the Middle East and asked Peres for recommendations of tourist sites in Israel.
"This is Stone's first visit to Israel, and she is definitely excited. She will also visit the Palestinian Authority and see projects the Center operates in the territories," the officials added.
Shimon Peres said in response: "Stone has won awards for her human rights work, and she is an excellent example of what women can contribute to the world. I believe that women have the power and ability to advance peace, and I see great importance in Sharon Stone's visit."
Three-day visit
Stone will stay in Israel for three days, and at her request, will take part in joint Israeli-Palestinian projects. She will visit program centers which focus on education, sports, economics and medicine, run by the Peres Center for Peace.
A spokeswoman for the Holon Woman's Festival also praised Stone's work, saying she had used her status to further several universal social issues, such as AIDS and children at risk.
"The festival that had concentrated its efforts on theater is currently enhancing its activities to include women's work in other areas, such as economics, social issues, politics and art... As a city of children, Holon sees great importance in the contribution of people like Stone in such important matters."
