Mel Gibson Apologizes to Jewish Community
BLITZER: The actor Mel Gibson is apologizing again for his anti- Semitic tirade during a DUI arrest and this time he's reaching out to the Jewish community directly asking for help and forgiveness. CNN's Chris Lawrence is following the story for us from Los Angeles. Chris?</s>CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the head of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League says he's willing to forgive Mel Gibson. The question is, will Hollywood executives still want to do business with him?</s>LAWRENCE (voice-over): Mel Gibson released another apology Tuesday for the first time speaking specifically to the Jewish community, quote, "I know there will be many in that community who will want nothing to do with me and that will be understandable. But I pray that door is not forever closed." He asked forgiveness, but the fallout is deep. After drinking at a Malibu bar with tourists last week, Gibson was pulled over for speeding on the Pacific Coast highway. He was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, and afterwards went on a rant against Jewish people, allegedly saying quote, "F'ing Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's assume that he really believes this and there are some Jewish executives that are sitting across from him, absolutely, they might have second thoughts about wanting to do business.</s>LAWRENCE: Spiderman producer Laura Ziskin is Jewish. She called Gibson's comments, quote "Appalling and sad." And producer Arna Nilchin was quoted in the "L.A. Times" saying quote, "To make all your money from Jews and say you hate Jews is shocking." But some say Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" film built up a lot of goodwill in the Christian community. And even President Bush's spokesman addressed Gibson's apology.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president believes in the forgiveness of sins for all who seek forgiveness.</s>LAWRENCE: Gibson's statement makes his position clear. Quote, "Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite, I am not a bigot."</s>LAWRENCE: Now Disney is producing Mel Gibson's next film and the head of its studio is Jewish. He says he's prepared to forgive Gibson, but ABC has cancelled plans for a mini-series about the holocaust that it was developing with Gibson's company. Although ABC didn't specifically say it was because of what the actor said -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Chris Lawrence in L.A., thank you. Lou Dobbs getting ready for his program that begins right at the top of the hour and he's standing by to give us a preview. Hi Lou.</s>LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf thank you. Coming up at 6:00 p.m. eastern here on CNN, we will have the very latest on Israel's expanding war against Hezbollah. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations is among my guest here tonight. We'll also be talking with a former U.S. deputy undersecretary of defense, who says the United Nations is simply too close to Hezbollah to play any role whatsoever in any peace deal. Also communist Cuba faces an uncertain future after Fidel Castro's emergency surgery. Will Castro's regime survive? We'll be going live to Havana for the very latest. And in the losing battle of our broken borders, tonight you'll meet a federal judge overwhelmed by illegal immigration and the war on drugs at our southern border. You don't want to miss it, we hope you'll be with us. Wolf, back to you.</s>BLITZER: Lou thank you very much. And this just coming in from the "Associated Press." Hezbollah television now, Al-Manar, saying that Hezbollah guerrillas are fighting Israeli troops on the ground in north eastern Lebanon in the town of Baalbeck, that's seen as a Hezbollah stronghold, only 10 kilometers or so from the Syrian border. We're watching this very significant change in the Middle East crisis as thousands of Israeli troops move into south Lebanon. And only about an hour or so from now that 48 hour cessation of Israel's air war is about to end. We're going to be live 7:00 p.m. eastern as that deadline, 48 hour deadline ends. Much more on that coming up. Also coming up, Jack Cafferty, he wants to know, should she stay or should she go. That would be democratic congresswoman Cynthia McKinney of Georgia running for reelection after being so loudly criticized for hitting a Capitol Hill police officer. Jack wants to know how you would vote. He's got your email. Stay with us. And there's a new tropical storm by the way swirling in the Atlantic, it's called Chris. Might it become a hurricane and might it reach Florida? Stand by for details.