The notoriously anti-Israel Celtic fan club is calling on famous musician Rod Stewart to cancel his gig in Tel Aviv.
Fans of the Scottish Celtic soccer club, who are notoriously anti-Israel, are calling on veteran rocker Rod Stewart to cancel his concert in Israel scheduled for this coming summer.
The soccer fans launched a petition asking Stewart not to perform in the Jewish State.
“We are shocked at your recent decision to breach the international cultural boycott of Israel and appeal to you to reconsider your decision,” the petition reads. “As a life-long Celtic fan you must be well aware of the special affinity our fans have with the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom.”
In September, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) fined Celtic 10,000 euros ($11,200) for its fans’ anti-Israel demonstrations at a Champions League game against Israel’s Hapoel Beersheba in August.
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary committee found the Scottish league guilty of a charge of displaying “illicit banners.”
The fans waved Palestinian flags, chanted anti-Israel slogans and held a demonstration outside the stadium. Police intervened when they attempted to assault Israeli fans.
The fans allege that “Israel openly uses culture as a form of propaganda to justify its illegal occupation of Palestine. Just as South African anti-apartheid activists called for an international boycott which led to the downfall of the apartheid regime, Palestinians are asking for a boycott of Israel as part of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) campaign.”
“As Celtic fans we support the Palestinian-led BDS movement for freedom, justice and equality. Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity! Thousands of artists across the world now refuse to perform in Israel. We are asking you to add your name to that list. Please cancel your concert!” the petition concludes.
Only 3,500 fans have signed the petition to date.
Celtic fans often demonstrate against Israel during their games.
Stewart, who last performed in Israel in 2010, has yet to respond to the petition.
The BDS movement promotes financial, academic and cultural boycotts against Israel, ostensibly as a nonviolent struggle against the so-called “Israeli occupation.” Critics say its activities are a modern form of anti-Semitism and that its true objective is to destroy the State of Israel.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel