American superstar Richard Gere has recently visited Palestine, where he met with a number of Palestinian officials on issues regarding peace. Gere met with the Minister of Information who expressed his gratitude towards the actor saying that it is essential that people from the Western entertainment world witness the agony the Palestinian people undergo on a daily basis.
According to several news sources, Gere had refused to hold a press conference to make any public statements and said that he intends on revisiting the region at the end of the year. The actor had also met with Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi, whom he held a very informative conversation with.
Richard also made it a point to meet with Palestinian actors and directors and learn more about the nature of their work under such crucial circumstances. One of the people he met with is director George Khalifa who also owns one of the main cinema houses in Ram Allah.
Gere was one of the American superstars who were against the US-led war on Iraq. He also belongs to the International Peace Maker Association, acting as the main representative. Richard had made it a point to also visit Israeli territory in order to avoid bias in his opinion regarding the situation in Palestine.
Richard’s visit was very much unlike that of American singer Whitney Houston, who had recently visiting Israeli and even paid a personal visit to Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Whitney, who was accompanied by her husband, did not include the Palestinian territories on her agenda, therefore, did not get the chance to hear their side of the story.
Born in 1949, Gere grew up in upstate New York, a typical farm boy. Typical, expect that he was exceptionally gifted in gymnastics and music. After high school, in 1967, the versatile Gere headed to the University of Massachusetts on a gymnastics scholarship. Two years in college, studying drama and philosophy, was enough to make him decide that a degree wasn't all that important, and quit to be an actor. He launched his theatrical career with the prestigious Seattle Repertory Company, traveling between Washington and Cape Cod for various plays. Dissatisfied with the life of an actor, he decided to become a professional trumpet player. No wonder this guy later took up Buddhism. –Albawaba.com
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