Richard Gere slams Israeli colonies

Richard Gere has lashed out at Israel over its colonies in territory that Palestinians want for a state.

The Pretty Woman star came to occupied Jerusalem for the local premiere of a new film by Israeli writer-director Joseph Cedar in which he stars.

A story in Sunday’s Haaretz newspaper quoted the actor as saying “colonies are such an absurd provocation... and they are certainly not part of the program of someone who wants a genuine peace process.”

The international community mostly views colonies as an obstacle to creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel in territory it captured in the 1967 war. Israel says colonies along with other core issues like security should be resolved in peace talks.