Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad rips Chuck Schumer over his criticism of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Even the maker of the superhero flicks is upset with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Marvel Studios founder Avi Arad — producer of the Spiderman, Incredible Hulk and Iron Man movies — slammed Schumer’s web of betrayal by abandoning Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and meddling in Israeli politics amid the Jewish State’s war with Hamas.
Arad, a dual citizen who was born in Israel and moved to the US in 1969, sent in a scorching personal letter to Schumer Tuesday saying he was stunned by the high-ranking Jewish official’s betrayal of Israel’s leader in its time of need.
“I am writing about your recent statement last Thursday when you called on Israel to hold new elections, saying you believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has `lost his way’ and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I believe your statement is not only incorrect, but inappropriate,” Arad, 75, said.
“It’s not your war. It is not your country. And it is not you who is at risk. And, with all due respect, it is not your place or business to attempt to dictate to another democratic country what its electorate should do or how they should vote,” said the Hollywood movie mogul, who is Jewish and served in the Israeli army.
Arad said it’s “repulsive” enough to hear Hollywood stars blame Israel for the “occupation” and the conflict with Palestinians, “but it is quite another to hear harsh criticism of Israel from a United States Senator who is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in our government and whose constituents constitute one of the largest concentration of Jews in the world.”
Arad accused Schumer, 73, of ignoring the fact that Israelis are dealing with an enemy — Hamas — that has vowed to “annihilate” the State of Israel.
“I wonder, if God-forbid, one or more of your relatives was butchered like the Israelis were by Hamas on October 7, what you would be saying – or, if God-forbid a member of your family was taken hostage and held in subhuman conditions for more than five months or killed in captivity. I wonder if you would take the same stance you recently took or you would utter the same words if you and/or your family lived in Israel and were subject to unwarranted missile strikes and attacks by these terrorists,” the film mogul said.
He also bashed the Democrat for statements that make “Israel look like the villain” for failure to secure a ceasefire when media reports say Hamas is resisting a temporary truce from the war in Gaza.
The filmmaker cited “skeptics” who say pro-Palestinian supporters in the Democratic Party, such as Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib — who encouraged Americans not to vote for Biden in the Democratic primary — could be influencing the New York senator’s views.
Schumer’s office declined to comment, but noted that the office received many letters of support from award-winning Hollywood actors and actresses, many of whom are Jewish.
Countering Arad, Mark Ruffalo, the actor who played The Incredible Hulk, praised Schumer for his “moral courage” in a statement on X hours after the senator’s speech knocking Netanyahu.
During the speech in the Senate chamber on March 14, Schumer said, “As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it’s become clear to me that the Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7.”
If Netanyahu remains in power “after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course,” Schumer warned.
