Israel and the cause of Zionism has attracted a great degree of supporters not only from the general public, but from celebrities as well.
Celebrities -- Be they actors, artists, or musicians -- Often champion causes with the wealth, social capital, and platforms they’ve created or gained access to. Zionism, as the movement to secure the self-determination of the Jewish people in their historic homeland, was a cause celebre since its creation, though it has also had its detractors.
Since the establishment of the state of Israel, Israeli celebrities have also begun to make a strong showing on the global stage. Patriotic Israelis have been thrust into the role of cultural ambassadors for Israel. One such celebrity is Gal Gadot, a former beauty queen who landed the role of the superhero Wonder Woman and has shown the world a more realistic and human perception of Israelis.
While support for Israel is largely been bipartisan, some celebrities have taken up the Palestinian cause, and they have consequently taken up a antagonistic view of Israel. However, Israel still retains a great degree of support among American influencers, and with fundraising galas and supportive letters regularly launched by pro-Israel celebrities. Sometimes, pro-Israel and anti-Israel celebrities come at odds with one another.
As Important cultural figures, celebrities are often the targets of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, in the hopes that they will sever ties with Israel and lead to a cultural shift in attitudes towards the Jewish State. While these efforts have yielded some notable results, they have been very limited and to minor effect.
