Français
Español
English
Portuguese
Notorious anti-Israel activist Roger Waters conceded that he failed in his latest attempt to boycott the Jewish state.
Musician and notorious anti-Israel activist Roger Waters conceded that he failed in his latest attempt to boycott the Jewish state.
The New York Times hosted Waters on Wednesday for a discussion on the occasion of his new album, in which he indicated that his push to get Radiohead to cancel an upcoming concert in Israel failed.
Asked by the Washington Free Beacon about his latest attempt to push for a boycott of Israel, Waters said that members of Radiohead “seem to have decided that they are going to go ahead and do a concert in Tel Aviv.”
“My personal view is that there is a valid picket line that has been organized by BDS, and I would prefer it if colleagues in my business did not cross that picket line,” Waters added.
Waters defended his anti-Israel stance, stating that all he wanted was for all of his “Palestinian and Arab friends” to have “equal rights,” and that he has “nothing against Jewish people.”
“They should have equal rights, and that is my only beef,” Waters said. “That is what I want for my Palestinian friends, nothing more.”
“I am not trying to destroy Israel, I have nothing against Jewish people,” Waters insisted. “They accuse me of being an anti-Semite because it is the only way they can attack this position—which is the basic position of BDS.”
Waters then added, “BDS goes further, they want the right to return for the refugees who were kicked out of their homes by force in 1947 and 1948, and again in 1967 after the war.”
“I personally agree with that—I think that to be turfed out of where you live and where you’ve lived for hundreds of years is wrong,” Waters said to raucous applause and a few cheers of “I agree” from the crowd at the Times event.
Waters’ statement that he has “nothing against Jewish people” is at odds with his past actions, such as when he flew a giant pig emblazoned with the Star of David and Nazi imagery over a 2013 concert. The stunt led the Simon Wiesenthal Center to label him “an open hater of Jews.” The Center explained that Waters used “a classic disgusting medieval anti-Semitic caricature widely used by both Nazi and Soviet propaganda to incite hatred against Jews.”
One event-goer—a self-described “Israeli leftist” named Danny—approached the Free Beacon after the event to dispute Waters’ false statements.
“That man is a full of s*** person,” Danny said.
Waters is infamously anti-Israel, and some say, an anti-Semite. He regularly utilizes his concerts to blast the Jewish State and promote actions against it.
He is a vociferous supporter of the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, which calls for boycotts and sanctions against Israel.
He has voiced support for the Hamas terror organization. He regularly exerts public pressure on performers slated to perform in Israel and demands that they refrain from doing so, claiming it will generate pressure on Israel’s “apartheid” and “criminal” government. In many cases he is ignored and fails in his mission.
He recently lost a multi-million dollar contract with American Express over his anti-Israel activism.
By: United with Israel Staff
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
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!
