Original article (in Albanian) was published on 03/01/2023
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the renowned actor, has declared his support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, refuting claims of using derogatory language against Palestinians. In an October interview, the iconic star of “The Terminator” discussed the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Various online articles have listed celebrities who have a pro-Israel stance, and who are thus considered to ‘support the killing of Palestinians’. These articles coincide with boycott calls against businesses and public figures accused of being complicit in the Gaza situation. An article titled “Who are the well-known Hollywood names that support Israel?” was published on December 25 by the ‘Te Sheshi’ portal. It names several actors, including Schwarzenegger, a former California governor, as part of pro-Israel campaigns.
The article further contends: “These are the names that should be remembered in the future as comparable to those who, decades ago, supported Nazism, leaving an indelible stain on their conscience. This applies not only to them but also to states and leaders who today align themselves with the genocidal Hebrew state.”
However, the actor turned into a politician in USA has not limited himself to supporting the Palestinian cause in his public engagements.
Yet, what has Arnold Schwarzenegger specifically said about Palestine? Accusations against him include his attendance at fundraisers for Hebrew organizations and his active support and visits to families of Israeli hostages. However, Schwarzenegger, who transitioned from acting to politics in the U.S., has also actively supported the Palestinian cause in his public engagements.
At no point has he expressed hate language towards the Palestinian people; on the contrary, he has stated that they have the right to have their own state.
In his October interview, Arnold Schwarzenegger shared his perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. At no point has he expressed hate language towards the Palestinian people; on the contrary, he has stated that they have the right to have their own state.
“The Palestinians have the right to live, the Palestinians have the right to have their own country. And they have to learn to live next to each other. It’s that simple. And I think it is the failure of leadership on both of the… of all of the parties, including America, to not be able to bring them together. And because of the failure of the politicians, soldiers have to die fighting in those battles, because no agreement has been reached. Innocent people have to die because of that, children have to die. It’s unnecessary. All of this stuff is because of the lack of communication and the skills of negotiating,” said the actor. (Quoted from the 21st minute of the video)
He added that, during negotiations”You can never expect a 10. If you’re lucky, you can expect a 7. Or an 8, if you’re really stretching. But not a 10. Because a 10 for you is not a 10 for the other side. And if the other side expects a 10, it’s not going to work for the other side (…) Eventually, they will see that the only way we can solve this issue is by recognizing each other. That Palestinians have the right to live, and so does Israel.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the son of a former Nazi soldier, and in some interviews, he has spoken about his relationship with him, describing him as a tyrant and abuser.