Jon Voight: “Israel Restores My Faith in Humanity — A Light to the Nations Amid Global Darkness”

World-renowned actor Jon Voight, winner of an Academy Award and three Golden Globes, has spoken passionately about his admiration for the State of Israel, its people, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I was ten years old when the State of Israel was founded,” Voight told Ynet. “It was a great miracle that even the Soviet Union and the United States agreed upon. It wasn’t because of a divine promise or the UN — they simply took what was given to them and made it into a nation. And despite all the dangers, they survived until today, and performed wonders. Not only did they win every war, they survived against all odds.”

Voight went on to praise Israel’s leadership: “I must say that Benjamin Netanyahu is the greatest blessing this nation has known, especially now, when Israel faces grave danger — from Iran, and even from the U.S. administration. The Israelis have always lived under threat, and they still do. But they will survive this too. They will fulfill God’s promise to be a light unto the nations. That’s why I stand with Israel. When I look at my own country losing its way, the place I can still find sanity is in the Torah and in the very existence of the State of Israel.”

Reflecting on his childhood, Voight recalled how early experiences shaped his lifelong respect for Jews: “I was born in 1938. When World War II ended, I was very young, and antisemitism was common then. As a child, I knew the Jews as the people who gave my father work and put food on our table. They encouraged him and helped him succeed. Even as a boy, I knew they were extraordinary people. I understood on my own that antisemitism was a foolish idea. My father had a strong sense of justice — and it came from those people, from their Jewish faith. We had relatives who weren’t as generous or wise as he was.”

Voight’s words add to his long-standing record of vocal support for Israel, highlighting his deep personal connection to the Jewish people and their resilience throughout history.