Reports that US singers Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez will perform in Israel this summer have triggered a pre-emptive campaign by activists, who are calling on the stars to boycott Israel in solidarity with the plight of Palestinians.
By Thursday, at least two petitions against Beyonce’s rumoured concert date in Tel Aviv had been launched, while social media users attached the #canceltelaviv hashtag to posts as they called on the pair to support a boycott.
Others, including the Palestinian-American author Randa Jarrar and the writer and activist Che Gossett, pleaded with the Beyonce on social media not to bring her “Formation” tour to Israel.
Greer continued: “Notable musicians like Elvis Costello, The Pixies, Carlos Santana, and Gil Scott-Heron have all cancelled performances in response to calls to join the boycott.
In Beyonce’s case, many criticised what they called hypocrisy as the African American celebrity’s latest song and accompanying video for “Formation” pays homage to racial inequality and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Neither of the musicians’ websites confirmed reports in Israeli media that their performances would go ahead this summer.