Cancellations and celebrations

June 10, 2010 - 8:46 AM by

Dana International - cancellations in Turkey and Spain, celebrations in Tel Aviv

While it may not be surprising that a number of international artists like the Pixies and Gorillaz Sound System cancelled their shows in Israel following the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla of ships last month, the aftermath has also affected Israeli artists.

In the last couple of days, concerts by the popular Idan Raichel Project have been cancelled in Turkey, the country which seems to be the angriest at us. Another show, by metal band Orphaned Land, which mixes Arabic and Jewish-musical and cultural themes in their music, were also axed from the upcoming Sonicsphere Festival, featuring Metallica, Megadeth and a slew of other leading hard rock bands.

Evidently, the security company responsible of the June 25th Istanbul festival announced that it couldn’t guarantee the band’s safety following the deterioration in relations between Israel and Turkey following the Gaza flotilla incident.

In a statement on their Web site, the band, which opened up for Metallica at their Ramat Gan Stadium show last month, called Turkey their second home, and that while they didn’t agree with the decision to pull them from the lineup, they understood and respected the situation of not wanting to put other bands at risk.

“You have to know that we feel safe and we 100% wanted to come despite all, to play for the purpose of peace, friendship and brotherhood of our nations… We promise you all that we will make the maximum efforts to schedule new dates in Turkey very soon. We personally feel safe; we don’t need any kind of security, surrounded by all of you makes us safe,” the band wrote.

And, in the latest cancellation, famed entertainer Dana International had a concert in Ankara, Turkey cancelled, and has been booted from the annual Gay Pride parade concert in Madrid.

The cancellation came after organizers asked members of the Israeli Gay-Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Association not to attend due to security issues.

In a column she wrote in today’s Yediot Aharonot, Dana expressed regret at the cancellations, both her own and those of the foreign artists who bailed, and said that music and politics should not be mixed.

She added, however, that there’s enough major talent in Israel without any help from abroad, and jumped aboard a planned gala concert later this month at Park Hayarkon or Rabin Square initiated by the Culture Ministry and featuring the country’s top performers to specifically prove that point.

Tags: , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Israeliness, Life, Music, Politics, Pop Culture 

Comments

3 Comments on Cancellations and celebrations

  1. MACO.CO.IL | Shoah on Sat, Jun 26th 2010 1:22 AM

    2. [...] to global society,” and has partnered with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and with AIPAC, reported June 10 that International is taking part in an all-Israeli “rock against the boycott” [...]

  2. Israel must change or collapse: On the impact of BDS « U.S. Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel on Sun, Jul 11th 2010 12:00 AM

    3. [...] http://israelity.com/2010/06/10/cancellations-and-celebrations/ [...]

  3. Israel must change or collapse: On the impact of BDS | US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel on Tue, May 10th 2011 7:50 AM

    4. [...] 20 http://israelity.com/2010/06/10/cancellations-and-celebrations/ [...]

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