Palestinians recruit Gere for elections

Within this, a pro-peace group is hoping that a quite unique combination of Hollywood glamour and religion will motivate Palestinians to vote in next week's presidential elections. Their star appeal is no other than Hollywood heart-throb Richard Gere...

Gere, together with two religious officials, recorded a public service announcement urging the Palestinian people to vote in the upcoming elections to replace former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who died in a Paris hospital in November.

"Hi, I'm Richard Gere and I'm speaking for the entire world. We're with you during this election time. It's really important: Get out and vote," Gere said, according to a transcript of the announcement obtained by The AP. Gere ended the80 -second spot produced by the pro-peace group, "One Voice," with an appeal in Arabic, "Take part in the elections."

The ad is to be aired on Palestinian TV and Arabic satellite channels in the next few days, said Fathi Darwish, a Palestinian director of "One Voice." The group calls for the nonviolent creation of a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Gere, who has also gained attention for his support for a Tibet free of Chinese rule, had no immediate comment.

Joining Gere in the announcement are Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, the head of the Islamic court in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Atallah Hannah, the spokesman of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem. "I've never heard of him (Gere) before," Hannah said of his co-star.

Sheikh Tamimi and Atallah Hannah recorded the broadcast together while Gere recorded it in the United States. Sheikh Tamimi says in the public service announcement that “For the Palestinian nation, (the elections) are a crucial process, a national need and religious obligation”. Hannah says, “We seek a democracy in our country, a place with liberties and freedom of expression”.

Sexy leading man Richard Gere’ breakthrough screen performance was in the title role of American Gigolo (1979), which established him as a major sex symbol. Ever since, he played key roles in such film successes as An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman playing opposite Julia Roberts. Off-screen, he is a devout Buddhist and remains active in ecological and political causes. His marriage to supermodel Cindy Crawford ended in1995 .

Gere has paid several visits in the past to Palestine, stressing it was time for the Palestinians to realize their ambitions and see an end to their suffering.

During his visit to Ramallah last June, the American superstar said the Palestinian people have the right to a normal life, adding Palestinians have managed to preserve their vitality despite the bitterness he saw on the faces of children and young people.

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