GagWatch

Rising Egyptian film star, Amr Waked is facing a possible ban on performing in his native Egypt for acting with an Israeli in the film. Currently shooting Between Two Rivers - a TV series that explores the inner workings of Saddam Hussein’s family - in Tunisia, Waked ran into trouble when his union discovered that Israeli actor Yigal Naor had been cast in the role of the ousted dictator.

Waked, who appeared alongside Hollywood stars George Clooney and Matt Damon in Stephen Gaghan’s 2005 blockbuster “Syriana,” defended his position, telling several Egyptian newspapers that he did not know an Israeli was involved until after he signed a contract.

He also said the film was pro-Arab and criticizes United States foreign policy, according to the English-language newspaper The Egyptian Mail.

The actor’s union, however, is opposed to any normalisation of relations with Israel and is determined to carry out an “investigation” into Waked when he returns from filming. This leaves him facing a potential expulsion from the union which would prevent him from acting in Egypt.

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