Pro-Palestinian activists are criticizing comedian Jerry Seinfeld for visiting a camp in the West Bank led by Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
The counter-terrorism and security training academy had posted pictures of Seinfeld from his visit, including him holding large weapons, Newsweek reports. Caliber 3 academy lets attendees experience a simulated suicide bombing, knife attack, and even participate in a sniper tournament.
The camp is "the leading counter terror and security training academy, run by active members of the IDF," according to its website.
Reaction to pictures of Seinfeld and his family from anti-Israel activists was swift, with some saying he was having fun with "fascists."
"I can never unsee Jerry Seinfeld gleefully posing with a machine gun at an IDF fantasy camp," GQ and Rolling Stone writer Eric Thurm said.
"There is nothing funny about occupation, colonization and profiteering off the theft of another people’s land," the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights' Yousef Munayyer said.
Palestinian-American journalist Jamal Dajani shared the pictures on Twitter, saying Seinfeld must think it is "entertaining to kill Palestinians and kill their land."
My only interpretation of these pictures is that Jerry Seinfeld thinks that it is entertaining to kill Palestinians and steal their land... pic.twitter.com/Df4zCFf01T
— Jamal Dajani جمال (@JamalDajani) January 8, 2018
Pictures that Caliber 3 had posted online were taken down. The academy initially posted the photos on Facebook, saying Seinfeld and those he was traveling with came to the academy "for shooting training with displays of combat, Krav Maga, assault dogs and lots of Zionism. It was great."
The comedian, who is Jewish, spent time when he was younger volunteering in Israel. He was in Israel for about 10 days with his family last week, which included two stand-up shows in Tel Aviv. During the most recent trip, he also visited Ramon Air Force Base.
It was just another day in the squadron until @JerrySeinfeld arrived! pic.twitter.com/wROCbuvBmn
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) January 2, 2018