The news out of Hollywood is that Gal Gadot, an Israeli model/actress, will be playing Wonder Woman in a “Man of Steel” sequel due out next year:

[Director Zack] Snyder praised Gadot as an “amazing” actress who possesses “that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role.”

The Jerusalem Post is excited about the news. Abe Novick writes:

miracle of miracles, this new Wonder Woman is no shiksa goddess. Gadot was a 2004 Miss Universe contestant from Israel and was in three of the “Fast & Furious” franchise films, which just recently lost one of its costars Paul Walker. She also served in the Israeli army for two years as a fitness instructor and according to “Fast & Furious” director and producer Justin Lin, when he learned of this he went and altered the character’s back-story to a Mossad agent.

Zack Snyder is like the opposite of BDS, a full-employment program for Israeli actresses. He swapped out a British actress for an Israeli one 2 years ago.

Previously, Russell Crowe and Julia Ormond held the roles of [Superman’s mother and father], but new reports reveal that Ormond has been replaced by Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer…. Deadline broke the news of Zurer’s casting, but was unable to cite a reason for director Zack Snyder’s last-minute substitution.

I don’t know Snyder’s reason either. But I have to wonder. He directed “300,” a medieval historical flick that was seen by folks across the Middle East as promoting war with Iran–though Snyder denied that had entered his mind. John Burke at Nieman Watchdog: