The One Voice campaign holds that a silent majority on both sides wants to end the fighting and compromise on real estate. To prove it, founders Daniel Lubetzky, an Jewish American businessman, and Mohammed Darawshe, an Israeli Arab peace activist, are distributing a questionnaire with ideas on solving everything from the Palestinian refugee problem to the status of Jerusalem. They hope leaders on both sides will pay close attention to the results. The two activists have also recruited Hollywood stars like Alexander to help advertise their program. NEWSWEEK’s Dan Ephron spoke to the actor in Tel Aviv about celebrity involvement in political causes–and why he’s grown a beard. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: How did you hear about One Voice?
Jason Alexander: Dan and Mohammed were hosted by [actors] Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman at their home as a sort of introduction to the Hollywood community, and they do a very good job–by the end of their presentation I was pretty excited and smitten by what they’re doing. I basically walked up to them and said “I still don’t understand how I can be helpful but if I can, I’m there.”
Was there something specific Dan or Mohammed said?
It’s a combination, but the clincher for me was Mohammed describing a conversation he had with his eldest son, who was trying to distract him from the news he was determined to watch. Mohammed’s 9-year-old son said this is the same news as yesterday. [Then] his son said, “Has it always been like this?” And Mohammed said, “Well, for a while it certainly has been like this.” And his son asked him if it would always be like this, and Mohammed pretty much made him a promise that it would not always be like that. At that point, I had not met his son or seen a picture, but I knew exactly what this child looked like because I could see my own son looking at me in the same way. It was a promise from a father to a son … All we hear about in this region are children sacrificing themselves. That’s the thing that’s hardest to understand.
Celebrity involvement in causes prompt some people to roll their eyes. Is there a right way and a wrong way to get involved?
I have the same knee-jerk reaction that most people have when they hear “and now, you know, some other Hollywood slob is going to save the world.” I know, I get the resentment. But I don’t think that’s what we’re doing here. I try very hard not to air my views in public for the most part because I feel I’m basically not educated enough about anything to be putting out a public opinion that might sway someone … But I’m comfortable doing this is because it’s different. They need the attention. All I’m doing at this point is saying, “OK, you can point your camera at me and I’ll stand next to them.”
What did your family say when you told them you were traveling to a war zone?
We had a very quick discussion about it and I said: “Look, even if it was slightly unsafe, how many times in my life am I going to be asked to put myself a little bit at risk for something worthwhile?” So there really was not a big discussion about it, and I truly did not feel that it was unsafe, nor did I think these guys would ask me to do something if they thought it was unsafe.
I know that you grew up in a Jewish home. How much was Israel an issue?
Israel was not really an issue in my home. My father passed away two years ago and never saw this place. My mother never came here and is really too old to travel now. I came here at the end of 1990 under the auspices of the Anti-Defamation League… [At the time] I had no interest in the place. I’m not a religious Jew and I thought I would be very uncomfortable … [But] I came and joined that mission and it really changed my life. I was completely enchanted and taken with this place.
Most people associate the nexus of celebrities and Jewish issues with Kabala. I noticed you’re growing a beard. Are you joining Madonna and Britney Spears in their study of the Hebrew mystical system of thought?
The beard only means I’m unemployed. I love having a beard. I think all bald guys like to have beards because it proves we can grow hair somewhere. When I’m working I’m usually hired for comedy, and people don’t think beards are funny. So whenever I’m unemployed and I know I’m going to be unemployed for a little while, I treat myself and grow a beard.
What would George Costanza say about the idea of coming to the Middle East to make peace?
George Costanza doesn’t know the Middle East exists. The four of them [in “Seinfeld”] were the most supremely selfish creatures on the face of the planet who knew nothing outside of their sphere of daily activity. If anything, he’d probably be here trying to recruit somebody for the Yankees, but that would be as far as it goes.
I heard that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston might be coming next. It made me wonder if sex appeal could save the Middle East.
Well, that’s why they started with me. You start with the biggest sex symbol you can find and then you move down to the Brad Pitts and Jennifer Anistons.
If there were one thing you could say to Yasir Arafat and Ariel Sharon, what would it be?
Listen to the people. From everything that I can understand, which granted is not the whole picture, the failure here has been a failure of leadership … If you are in office because you are a public servant, which is supposedly the high and mighty goal of this, then to truly know your people is the greatest asset you have.
There was another bombing in Jerusalem on Sunday, just as you were preparing for your flight. How did it affect you?
My hope is that we are getting to a point where a moderate majority sees these tragedies as a rallying point to say “this must end.”
Did you consider canceling the trip?
No. Daniel and Mohammed have my absolute trust. We’re going to Ramallah this week and all I said was, “Am I OK going there?’ And the answer was, “You’re OK going there.” So that’s the end of it.
