Ignoring BDS, Shakira Will Perform in Israel

Shakira will perform in Israel for the first time, despite anticipated pressure from BDS. 

 

Shakira, the world-famous Latina singer, will perform in Israel, despite anticipated pressure from the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement.

The superstar is slated to hold her first ever concert in Tel Aviv this July, Israel’s Hadashot TV reported on Saturday.

The report said that Shakira is aware she will likely come under pressure from anti-Israel elements to cancel her Tel Aviv gig, but has chosen to perform in Israel just the same.

“I respect and have great affection for this country [Israel] and the people of this country,” Shakira said in an interview with the Associated Press in 2011 while participating in Shimon Peres’ presidential conference on the Jewish state.

“I’m happy to be in Israel, the land which has been the mother of cultures and spirituality for so long,” said the two-time Grammy Award winner, according to the Times of Israel.

The BDS movement promotes financial, academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, ostensibly as a nonviolent protest 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.

The BDS movement, including anti-Israel activist and musician Roger Waters, consistently calls on artists to cancel events in Israel, a tactic that has worked on a few performers, including Stevie Wonder and most recently Lorde.

Most artists ignore the movement, including Radiohead, which performed in Tel Aviv in July, Steve Vai, who performed in Israel in March, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, who will perform in June.