Round Tables is part of the Israeli government’s “gastro-diplomacy” efforts, aimed at distracting attention from Israel’s theft of Palestinian land and food resources.

Any International student, regardless of identity, enrolling in a complicit Israeli university is violating the Palestinian nonviolent picket line. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel strongly advises against such enrollment and any other connection to complicit institutions.

Palestinian workers', women's and farmers' associations urge international chefs to cancel their participation in Round Tables 2018 in Tel Aviv. "It is an attempt to whitewash Israel’s grave violations of Palestinian human rights."

In a statement a representative for the Hollywood star said “[r]ecent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel” and that “she cannot in good conscience move forward with the ceremony.”