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Tassa’s comments were in response to the former Pink Floyd frontman’s statements regarding members of the band Radiohead, who have refused to comply with the BDS movement against Israel.
By Shiryn Ghermezian, The Algemeiner
Israeli singer-songwriter Dudu Tassa took to Instagram on Monday to criticize former Pink Floyd frontman and anti-Israel musician Roger Waters for “obsessing” over artists who choose not to support a cultural boycott of Israel.
Tassa directly addressed Waters in an Instagram post, writing, “Dear Roger, Are you not tired of obsessing over the same musicians who are simply trying to bring good into the world? Move on. Your incredible music has already contributed and inspired an entire generation. Now, all the noise achieves nothing. Music is what matters. Got it?”
Tassa’s post was in response to comments Waters recently made about Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke and the British rock band’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood, regarding their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the band’s refusal to cancel shows in Israel. Waters is an avid supporter of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, which constantly urges musicians not to perform in the Jewish state.
Radiohead has been performing in Israel for over 20 years, most recently in 2017, and Greenwood and Tassa have been collaborating and releasing music together since 2008. The Radiohead guitarist, who is married to an Israeli, released a collaborative album with Tassa last year titled “Jarak Qaribak,” which is an Arabic phrase that means “Your Neighbor Is Your Friend.” The album features vocalists and musicians from across the Middle East, including Cairo, Ramallah, and Beirut. Greenwood and Tassa performed together in Tel Aviv this summer, despite pressure that Greenwood faced from BDS supporters to cancel his shows. Radiohead was also threatened by BDS activists because of Greenwood’s concerts in Israel.
Waters made a recent guest appearance on “The Empire Files” podcast and talked about exchanging emails with Yorke regarding Radiohead’s decision to perform in Israel in 2017. Waters also commented on Yorke’s confrontation with an anti-Israel fan during one of his concerts in Melbourne, Australia, in October. The former Pink Floyd lead singer called Yorke “a complete prick” and said, “I think he’s damaged.”
“He’s very damaged,” Waters added. “He’s obviously very, very deeply insecure. He obviously thinks he’s very bright but he’s not. So he can’t actually have a conversation.”
Waters then criticized Greenwood for releasing music with Tassa this summer and performing in Israel.
“We must ban Israel from all international soccer, at club level and international level. We must ban them from Eurovision. They should never have been in Eurovision anyway,” he claimed. “Israel has to be banned. It is a rogue state and it is a murderous genocidal rogue state. This is nothing against Jews. I have nothing against Judaism, nothing against Jewish people. I’m talking about the genocidal rogue state of Israel.”
Waters has previously come under fire for his use of antisemitic and Holocaust-related imagery and content in past concerts, such as a balloon shaped like a pig and that was embossed with a Star of David. Last year, an explosive documentary showed fellow musicians detailing Waters’ long record of anti-Jewish barbs. In one instance, a former colleague recalled Waters at a restaurant yelling at the wait staff to “take away the Jew food.”
Greenwood previously released a statement defending his decision to perform in Israel this summer and release new music with Tassa. “I think an artistic project that combines Arab and Jewish musicians is worthwhile,” wrote the British musician. “And one that reminds everyone that the Jewish cultural roots in countries like Iraq and Yemen go back for thousands of years, is also important.”
“The silencing of Israeli film makers / musicians / dancers when their work tours abroad — especially when it’s at the urging of their fellow Western film makers/musicians/artists — feels unprogressive to me,” he added in part. “No art is as ‘important’ as stopping all the death and suffering around us. How can it be? But doing nothing seems a worse option. And silencing Israeli artists for being born Jewish in Israel doesn’t seem like any way to reach an understanding between the two sides of this apparently endless conflict.”
Waters called Greenwood’s explanation “complete bulls—t” during his appearance on “The Empire Files” podcast.
In 2017, Waters signed an open letter urging Radiohead not to perform in Israel. The letter, also signed by other musicians and British director Ken Loach, accused Israel of imposing “a system of apartheid on the Palestinian people.” Radiohead ignored the letter and still performed in Israel. Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too! Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion. Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
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