‘Homeland’s Gideon Raff: “This Is Not the Animals’ War.”

Meet Gideon Raff, executive producer of Homeland and the creator of the Israeli television series Prisoners of War, on which Homeland is based. Homeland’s multiple wins at the 2012 Emmy Awards included two for Raff—Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series—and critics everywhere have hailed the Showtime hit as the best show on TV.

It may not seem unusual that a man who spent three years as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces might create a show about military intrigue, terrorism, and the psychological minefields faced by returning prisoners of war, but you might be surprised to learn that Gideon is also a staunch animal rights advocate and that he wrote a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta asking for an end to the use of animals in the military’s trauma training exercises.

According to Gideon, “Animals have nothing to do with our war. It’s not their fault—they’re completely innocent of this.”

Watch the video to hear Gideon’s thoughts on animal testing, going vegan, and using animals for entertainment:

Like Brody and Carrie and the other characters on Homeland, Gideon is also a person of great depth and sensitivity. His respect for animals extends to all animals, not only cats and dogs but also those killed for food, used in laboratory experiments, and exploited for entertainment. And just as Homeland’s Nicholas Brody, a former soldier and prisoner of war, understands the trauma of captivity and abuse, Gideon understands animals’ innate desire for freedom.

Join Gideon in making the world a better place for animals with your generous donation.