GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians and wounded 80 in renewed unrest on the Gaza-Israel border on Friday, bringing the death toll in three weeks of protests by Palestinians demanding the right to return to their former homeland to at least 33. The Israeli military has said the civilians are being used as a cover by the militant Islamist group Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip, to infiltrate Israel and carry out terrorist attacks in its border communities. “We extend our apologies to everyone who has been affected by this decision, particularly to the hundreds of international guests who made plans to fly to Jerusalem to honour Ms. Portman and celebrate the contribution of Jewish women to humanity, the main theme of this year’s ceremony.”

When the 36-year-old was announced as the Laureate, it was revealed that the $1 million prize money would be donated to philanthropic programs which promote women’s equality in her honour. The Black Swan actress was named the 2018 Genesis Prize Laureate in November for inspiring Jews through her professional achievements and her commitment to the Jewish people and values, and was due to attend a ceremony in her birth city of Jerusalem on 28 June. JERUSALEM — The foundation behind the prestigious Genesis Prize says this year’s winner, Natalie Portman, has pulled out of the June awards ceremony in Israel, quoting a representative for the U.S. actress as saying recent events in Israel were “extremely distressing to her.”

The Genesis Prize Foundation says it was informed Portman “does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel.”

The statement late Thursday did not refer to specific events. Portman was announced as the 2018 laureate in November for a prize that “honors individuals who serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through their outstanding professional achievement along with their commitment to Jewish values and the Jewish people.”

Every winner has pledged to donate the award money, which was doubled this year to $2 million.
Actress Natalie Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, pulls out of the upcoming Genesis Prize (worth 1 million USD) ceremony in Israel over "recent events in Israel". The Genesis Prize Foundation says it is worried the event will become politicised.