August 23, 2011, Updated September 11, 2012

Hollywood actor Jon Voight, the father of A-list star Angelina Jolie, was in Israel this week to show his support for the State. A longtime supporter of Israel, Voight headed south to Soroka Hospital in Beersheva to visit victims of the recent terror attacks.

Voight said he was saddened by the attacks and noted that Israel needs its friends at this time. “The US should be Israel’s best friend,” Ynet news quoted Voight as saying, adding that the aim of the visit was to report back on the situation to the American public.

The Oscar-winning actor was surprised to hear that the hospital was also treating Palestinians.

“People from abroad do not understand the reality in Israel until they come here,” Voight said. “The American public thinks Israel is strong, tough, and smart, but needs to remember that it is also humane, vulnerable, and surrounded by enemies.”

Voight also took part in an event about the Holocaust organized by American broadcaster Glenn Beck.

“I feel complete contempt for anyone not intelligent enough to see that the media propaganda portraying the Palestinians as victims endangers the state of Israel,” he told the crowd at the Jerusalem event.

Beck is also promoting tomorrow’s bigger Jerusalem event, the “Restoring Courage” rally to show solidarity with Israel.

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