Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner has called on The Passion of the Christ director Mel Gibson to acknowledge that "his work reflects anti-Semitism".

"It's not a matter of just apologising for some words you've said," Reiner, 60, told Associated Press Radio.

"It's to really understand why it is you're anti-Semitic and where those feelings came from."

Gibson apologised for making "harmful" anti-Semitic comments following his arrest for drink-driving in July.

The actor was arrested on 28 July after being seen driving at 87mph (139km/h) on a 45mph (72km/h) stretch of Malibu's Pacific Coast Highway, the local sheriff's department said.


Gibson, 50, admitted he had suffered a relapse in his battle with alcoholism.

"Please know from my heart I am not an αnтι-ѕємιтє. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith," said the film-maker, in a statement released earlier this month.

He was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous afer pleading no contest to a drink-driving charge earlier this month.

Director Reiner, who is Jєωιѕн, is best known for films including Stand By Me, A Few Good Men and When Harry Met Sally.

'Long process'

He made particular reference to Gibson's biblical epic The Passion of the Christ, recently named the most controversial movie to date by US magazine Entertainment Weekly.

The film, which focused on the final 12 hours in Jesus's life, prompted accusations of anti-Semitism on its release two years ago.

"When he can come out and say, you know, 'My views have been reflected in my work and I feel bad that I've done that,' then that will be the beginning of some reconciliation for him," Reiner told AP.

"I believe that people can be redeemed and people can change, but that's going to be a very long process," he said