I never liked politics and never understood what is it about! But the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is something the Arab World people knew since birth. It doesn’t matter to some and others take sides. Frankly, I didn’t pay attention to it for many years but when I started to study the history regarding this matter – based on historical and religious texts – I decided to take the Palestinian side. Why?! Let’s put it through simple words, if Israel had the right to occupy this land, they wouldn’t go that far to humiliate a woman, a young boy, or even elderly people. Then why take such a rough path? Because they are afraid…
My list is divided in two parts; one will be about famous artists who are individually against the state of Israel and the second part is about the global campaign Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, also known as the BDS Movement.
1. Roger Waters
The legendary rock icon is the most famous musician on Earth who is against the state of Israel. He also had a remarkable speech, held in the UN that highlights on how Israel doesn’t have the right to take over the Palestinian lands. Watch the speech here:
Other than his great musical contributions with Paul McCartney, The Strokes and even with his awesome wife, jazz artist Diana Krall, he also has a stand against Israel as by cancelling two shows back in 2010. As he stated on his website;
“It has been necessary to dial out the falsehoods of propaganda, the double game and hysterical language of politics, the vanity and self-righteousness of public communiqués from cranks in order to eventually sift through my own conflicted thoughts.”
3. Brian Eno
Eno is a musician, composer, producer and visual artist most known for his work with David Bowie.
There’s no doubt that Eno is one of the great music composers and producers for sure. There are remarkable and strong moments from him towards the Palestinian case. Based on the Guardian; he was one of the 100 artists and writers who Boycotted Israel in 2006. Also in 2009 he spoke out against Israel’s military action on the Gaza Strip and last year he protested publicly against what he called “one-sided exercise in ethnic cleansing”
According to many news agencies the legendary solo artist canceled his show back in 2010 based on the anti-Israeli pressure.
6. Gil Scott-Heron (Jazziest)
Based on Al-Jazeera; the departed legendary jazziest Scott-Heron was booked to perform in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2010 but this attracted criticism from pro-Palestinian activists, who stated: “Your performance in Israel would be the equivalent to having performed in Sun City during South Africa’s apartheid era… We hope that you will not play apartheid Israel.” Scott-Heron responded by canceling the performance.
7. Coldplay
One of the beloved Alternative rock bands of all times stated on Facebook “Some of our friends are involved in OneWorld’s new ‘Freedom for Palestine’ single” with a link to the website and the video clip, causing controversy. Which made many anger fans (who are on the Israeli’s side) to stand against them.
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
First of all this campaign is “attempting to increase economic and political pressure on Israel to comply with the stated goals of the movement: the end of Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestinian land, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and respect for the right of return of Palestinian refugees.”
Some of the mentioned artists above are actually part of the movement such as Roger Waters.
Anyhow, some artists showed their support as “decline offers to perform/speak in Israel or agree and then cancel without giving any explicit political reasons.” Like; Bono, U2, Bjork, Jean-Luc Godard, Snoop Dogg, Vanessa Paradis, and others.
But hey, not all musicians are with the Palestines case, there are a lot of ‘stars’ that you admire actually support and with the state of Israel. Do you want to know who? More will be revealed soon…
Finally, check below a well-made video (not I give the credits to whom) talks about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Leading image: Nora Kamal
Written by: Mena Ezzat
Edited by: NJ Bakr
