Negotiations are underway to bring Grammy-winner Taylor Swift to Israel this summer.

A concert in Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv. (Roni Schutzer/Flash90)

While musicians and artists from Europe continue to hop on the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) bandwagon, recent reports indicate that Taylor Swift plans to join the cadre of American superstars that have graced the stage in Israel. According to a recent report on Ynet, multiple individuals are vying to land a contract to produce Swift’s show this June, which will be part of the European leg of her summer concert tour.

Quoting an unnamed music biz insider, Ynet reported that Swift was offered up to $2.5 million for a concert in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, which has recently hosted luminaries such as the Rolling Stones, Tony Bennett, and the relative newcomer Lady Gaga. With over 30 million albums sold and over 80 million digital single downloads to her credit, Swift ranks as one of the top musical artists to perform in Israel in recent past.

Top Performers Reject BDS

The decision of performers such as Swift, Rhianna, and Justin Timberlake to perform in the Holy Land stands in stark contrast to the stance taken by a number of musicians and artists who virulently criticize the state of Israel and refuse to perform here. Many of these musicians, led by ringleader Roger Waters, recently signed a letter declaring support for the “Artists for Palestine” initiative, a cultural boycott of Israel built on the foundations of the BDS movement’s lies.

A pre-BDS Roger Waters in Jerusalem, 2009. (Lior Mizrahi/Flash90)

Despite efforts of individuals such as Waters, many musicians refuse to give in to the pressure and shame tactics of the BDS movement. Most recently, Alan Parsons rejected calls to cancel his concert in Tel Aviv. The “Eye in the Sky” singer announced to the world, “Music knows no borders, and neither do I.”

Unique Talent for a Unique Nation

Provided she signs on the dotted line, Swift’s concert should be one of the top selling performances of the year, if not the decade. Rising to prominence as a country music star with her self-titled debut in 2006, which spawned the hit “Our Song,” Swift achieved crossover success in the pop world with her follow up album “Fearless” and the singles “Love Story” and “You Belong to Me.” With multiple platinum albums to her credit, Swift is recognized as one of the most influential voices in the music world today.

By: United with Israel Staff