Jay Leno: Israel Seems to Have 'The Worst PR In the World...It Doesn't Make Sense to Me'

March 10th, 2015 2:58 PM

Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno is going back to Israel this summer to emcee the country’s second annual Genesis Prize, billed as the “Jewish Nobel Prize.”

Gossips at The Washington Post noticed that Leno told the Associated Press that Israel has “the worst PR in the world.”

He said he felt that people seemed especially appreciative of his decision to visit at a time when entertainers are under pressure to boycott Israel over its policies toward the Palestinians. “Israelis are thrilled when you actually show up,” he said.

Leno, who is not Jewish, described himself as a big supporter of Israel, and said he disagreed with critics who portray the country as an aggressor.

“It seems like they (Israel) have the worst PR in the world,” he said. “I don’t understand how Israel is the bad guy here. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Leno also hosted the inaugural ceremony last year. The $1 million prize is being awarded to Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas in recognition of his “passion” for his Jewish heritage and Israel. (Last year’s winner was former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who as a billionaire didn't need the money.)

“After 22 years of hearing Jay poke fun of my movies on ‘The Tonight Show,’ it’ll be a nice change to be there when he does it in person,” Douglas said in a statement released by the Genesis Prize Foundation.