Over 100 Artists Sign Pledge in Support of Lorde’s Israel Decision

Global artists come to support of Lorde over Israel concert cancellation.

RAMALLAH, January 6, 2018 (WAFA) – More than 100 actors, musicians, writers and directors have signed a pledge of support of New Zealand pop singer Lorde after she was criticized for cancelling a concert in Israel.

The pledge, which was published as an open letter in the Guardian on Friday, was signed by well-known artists including Mark Ruffalo, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Viggo Mortensen, Tom Morello, John Cusack, Julie Christie, Shepard Fairey, Eve Ensler, Angela Davis, Talib Kweli, and James Schamus.

Lorde has been making headlines since canceling a show scheduled for June in Tel Aviv heeding calls by activists in the boycott, divestment and sanction (BDS) movement.

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The letter of support came in response to a full-page ad featured in the Washington Post that attacked Lorde for her decision. The ad was sponsored by the Word Values Network, an organization run by, Shmuley Boteach, a supporter of US President Donald Trump whose main donors include right-wing settlement funder, Sheldon Adelson.

“We write in support of Lorde, who made public her decision not to perform in Israel and has now been branded a ‘bigot’ in a full page advertisement in the Washington Post,” the letter said.

“Shmuley Boteach, the author and promoter of the advert, supports Israel’s illegal settlements and wrote last month on Breitbart to thank Donald Trump for ‘electrifying the world’ with his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in defiance of international law. He has nothing to teach artists about human rights.”

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“We deplore the bullying tactics being used to defend injustice against Palestinians and to suppress an artist’s freedom of conscience. We support Lorde’s right to take a stand,” it added.

In recent years, various other artists including Lauryn Hill, Talib Kweli and Cat Power have canceled shows in Israel in support of BDS.

Boycott and divestment are time-honored-tools used in support of social justice and human rights causes, including the US Civil Rights movement and the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, both of which inspired the BDS movement. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)