Jon Voight blasts Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem over Israel-Gaza letter

Veteran American actor Jon Voightis blastingPenelope Cruz and Javier Bardemover a recent letter accusing Israel of committing "genocide" in the Gaza Strip.

Cruz and Bardem are among several Spanish actors who signed the strongly worded dispatch last week, which also called on theEuropean Union to condemn Israel's military actions.

Cruz later sought to softenher stance on the issue after receiving harsh backlash for the letter.

The actress wrote in USA Today: "I'm not an expert on the situation and I'm aware of the complexity of it. My only wish and intention in signing that group letter is the hope that there will be peace in both Israel and Gaza."

'Oblivious to the damage'

Despite the clarification, Voightlashed out at Cruz and her husband Bardem inan open letter published this weekend, calling their comments "ignorant" and declaring that all signatories to the letter should "hang their heads in shame."

I am heartsick that people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem could incite anti-Semitism all over the world and are oblivious to the damage they have caused."

A major Hollywood executive is also wading into the debate. Relativity Media CEO Ryan Kavanaugh told The Hollywood Reporterthat he's "extremely disappointed in Hollywood for its silence in the face of this letter."

Kavanaughlikened the lack of response from the movie industry to "the silence when concentration camps started during World War II."

While the war of words continues in Hollywood, the safety concerns in Israelcontinue toimpact cultural events there.

• Cirque du Soleil cancels visit to Israel over conflict
• Neil Young cancels concert in Israel over security fears

Heavy metal band Megadeth has cancelled its concert Wednesday in Tel Aviv, andCeeLoGreen is skipping his planned Aug. 19 tour stop in Jerusalem.

Wyclef Jean is also set to headline TheBoomBox Festival in Hadera, Israel, but organizers have nowpostponed the scheduled Aug. 14 event to an unspecified date.