As many of you know, Israel is under assault. However, the perpetrators are not only Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, but rather artists and musicians who are engaged in a Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Popular musicians—including Elvis Costello, The Pixies, Carlos Santana, The Gorillaz and Roger Waters—are refusing to perform in Israel, in order to punish the tiny Jewish state.
Roger Waters, former lead singer of the popular rock band Pink Floyd, wrote at length about his decision to boycott the state of Israel.
Here is part of what he said:
“In my view, the abhorrent and draconian control that Israel wields over the besieged Palestinians in Gaza, and the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank (including East Jerusalem), coupled with its denial of the rights of refugees to return to their homes in Israel, demands that fair minded people around the world support the Palestinians in their civil, nonviolent resistance…For me it means declaring my intention to stand in solidarity, not only with the people of Palestine, but also with the many thousands of Israelis who disagree with their governments racist and colonial policies, by joining a campaign of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, until it satisfies three basic human rights demanded in international law.
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands [occupied since 1967] and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.”
So basically, Waters is calling for a boycott of Israel, until all the “Palestinian refugees” are allowed back in, effectively destroying it as the homeland of the Jewish people.
That Roger Waters, and so many other artists, would boycott the only true democracy in the Middle East—the only country that upholds the progressive values and human rights he supposedly lauds—shows how far anti-Semitism has pervaded our culture.
Many musicians boycott Israel because of peer-pressure, and because of pressure from anti-Israel hate groups. They succumb to this pressure because there does not seem to be any repercussions for boycotting Israel.
Well, I believe this is the perfect opportunity for Israel supporters to take a stand, and say “enough is enough!” If Roger Waters wishes to starve Israel economically then we should do the same back to him.
Roger Waters is scheduled to perform at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, May 19th of this year. This event will most certainly be attended by many Jews, as Roger Waters is extremely popular, and Los Angeles comprises one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. But maybe we can change that, and send a message to Roger Waters, and any other musician who is considering a boycott of Israel.
Please inform all your friends about Roger Waters’ boycott of Israel, and urge them to not attend his concert. Call up his management, write on his Facebook page, and do whatever else you can to let Roger know that boycotting Israel comes with consequences.
This is the perfect opportunity for Jewish liberals and conservatives, AIPAC and J-Street, to unite under a common cause, and make it clear that trying to economically destroy the only Jewish State will not go unnoticed.
We are not saying that people cannot criticize Israel. Of course they can. But there is a stark difference between criticism and a boycott. Let’s be clear—to single out the only Jewish state for hateful and economically harmful boycotts, is simply anti-Semitic.
