Arnon Milchan interviews with Cigar Aficionado magazine
Producer (sometimes arms dealer and entrepreneur) Arnon Milchan has made the cover of October’s Cigar Aficionado magazine.
Since the 1970’s the multi-billionaire Israeli has been responsible for financing and producing with his New Regency Productions over 120 films including “Pretty Woman” “L.A. Confidential” “JFK” and “Fight Club.”
The interview of Milchan by publisher Marvin Shanken enlightens us on who Milchan really is finding out that the man controls 30 companies in 17 countries and has partnered with influential business leaders such as Rubert Murdoch (News Corp), Kerry Packer (Nine Network in Australia) and Nelson Peltz (Triarc.)
Not forgetting his Israeli roots, Milchan talks about his passion in building Israel’s agriculture industry into a world power as well as his hope to work with either Barack Obama or John McCain to bring peace to the Middle East.
Milchan says that if he played a role in US politics “I wouldn’t tell you, except in private, but I know the players” continuing to say:
“I really, really believe that I have the skills, the courage, the conviction and the know-how to make a difference in the peace process in the Middle East. I think I can get in a room, no different than I got into a room with Arafat. I can get in the room and work out a deal…. I can get with the Iranian guy. I think if I really want something, it is to work with the next administration in Israel and the United States, whoever is the president here, whoever is the prime minister in Israel, and get myself hired to be the go-between, between Arabs and Jews. I will deliver this one. The point I’m making here, I’m the most qualified person I’ve ever met to make peace. It will be my best movie, and I can do it. That’s my big dream.”
With regard to Israeli politics Milchan admits playing a role as far back as 1965 when he put up $3,000 to help former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Dayan and Shimon Peres form the Rafi Party and his current role in helping Ariel Sharon’s Kadima Party “make peace among the left, right and center.”

