Hatred surrounding the conflict in the Middle East continues to spill over into the West, most recently forcing Jonny Greenwood from the British band Radiohead to cancel two UK shows with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa because of threats received by the venues.
The musical duo said in a statement on social media that “enough credible threats” had been sent to the venues and their staff “to conclude that it’s not safe to proceed.” They criticised activists for “censorship” and “silencing” and—as with attempts to ban Israel from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest—stressed the futility of the action.
Intimidating venues into pulling our shows won’t help achieve the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves.
This comes after a survey suggested that half of the Jews living in the UK have considered leaving the country over the past year, and also follows reports that Iranian terror suspects arrested over the weekend may have been preparing to attack a synagogue.
A study by the free speech campaign group Freedom in the Arts also this week claimed that artists are terrified to speak freely about Gaza, and that 78% of those in the industry would not “dare own up to Right-of-centre political opinions.”
Activists were, of course, delighted by the silencing. Pro-Palestine group PACBI-BDS, which campaigned against the performances, said “Palestinians welcome the cancellation of both of their UK shows.”
We reiterate our call for all venues to refuse to programme this complicit event that can only artwash genocide.
Social media users also responded mockingly to Greenwood and Tassa’s statement, accusing them of “dodging around the issue,” or even in one case covering their message with the words “FREE PALESTINE B***H.”
The pair were due to perform in both Bristol and London. The record they are promoting features musicians from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Iraq, and exists—as, they claim, art should—“above and beyond politics.”
That art seeks to establish the common identity of musicians across borders in the Middle East should be encouraged, not decried.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
