Pop music star Shakira has canceled her upcoming concert in Tel Aviv, following the appeal from Palestinian activists and BDS campaigners.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) released a statement confirming the news:
We welcome news that Shakira will not be performing in Tel Aviv, dashing Israel’s hopes to use her name to art-wash its latest massacre in Gaza. Artists, especially UN Goodwill Ambassadors, have a moral duty not to be complicit in covering up human rights violations & apartheid. pic.twitter.com/Mbhnvm609f
— PACBI (@PACBI) May 29, 2018
The decision came after thousands of fans and boycott activists from all over the world appealed to Shakira to cancel.
To #Shakira from Gaza: Don’t Sing for #Israel’s Apartheid, Stand With Us https://t.co/5dXCKiDr9f via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/xsSZ97NQth
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) May 29, 2018
Following the violent carnage at the Gaza border, many international artists have condemned Israel’s use of force against unarmed Palestinian protesters and joined the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) against Israel, in solidarity with Palestine.
(PC, Social Media)
As an American and as a Jew from an othodox family I support Shakira’s decision not to perform in July in Israel.
The occupation must end. It has been decades and the Palestinian suffering cannot continue.
The land theft and settlements in occupied territory must stop.
The world can no longer turn a blind eye.
The pain at hearing Israel being called an apartheid state, a fascist state, has been unbearable at times to someone who has loved Israel all their life.
But, we were told this was a land without a people, for a people without a land.
It was not true.