PORTMAN

Middle East briefs

By JTA

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Terrorism made Portman activist

JERUSALEM (JTA)—The anguish of a friend grieving over a terror victim in Israel led actress Natalie Portman to become an activist. “When I was at Harvard, a very close friend lost someone to the violence in Israel,” Portman says in a first-person essay that appeared last month in Parade magazine.

“I felt so helpless watching her pain. I really wanted to do something, but I didn’t know where to begin. Coming from Israel, I know how polarized that part of the world scene can be.”

Portman called Jordanian Queen Rania, a Palestinian, who told Portman about the Foundation for International Community Assistance. The group, Portman says, “grants loans, mostly to women, to start small businesses. Rather than donate food, it helps people earn the money to buy their own food and gives women the opportunity to better their lives.” Portman has since traveled to Central America and Africa for the foundation.

Olmert’s popularity buoyed by cancer

JERUSALEM (JTA)—Ehud Olmert’s disclosure that he has early-stage prostate cancer edged up his approval ratings. A poll commissioned by Yediot Achronot after Olmert’s surprise announcement Oct. 29 found that 41 percent of Israelis “appreciate” his performance as prime minister, up from 35 percent in September. Olmert, whose popularity plummeted after last year’s Lebanon war and amid ongoing corruption allegations, also got high marks in the survey for his “bravery” in coming forward, an act that 61 percent of respondents said they found moving. Eighty-seven percent of respondents agreed with Olmert’s decision to stay in office. But asked which among Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu is most fit to be prime minister, 14 percent said Olmert, 17 percent said Barak and 35 percent said Netanyahu.