Director Julian Schnabel hits out at boycott calls over Israel

US director Julian Schnabel has hit out at calls to boycott Scottish actor Gerard Butler who has been targeted by activists for his alleged previous support for the Israeli military.

Butler gives a gripping performance as a hit man in Schnabel’s latest film — “In The Hand of Dante” — which premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday.

“It’s unfortunate,” Schnabel told AFP of the boycott calls by activist group Venice4Palestine which has cited Butler’s appearance at a fund-raising event…