Roger Waters voices support for Israel boycott
Former Pink Floyd frontman urges fellow artists to join ban until Israel to ends the occupation, grants full equality to Israeli Arabs, and allows all Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel newsRoger Waters, founding member, vocalist and bassist of the iconic rock band 'Pink Floyd' has voiced his support for a cultural boycott of Israel.
The British musician performed in Israel in 2005, ignoring calls from Palestinian rights advocates to cancel. While in Israel, Waters visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He was taken to the controversial separation fence in the West Bank, which he called "an appalling edifice to behold."
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Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters performs in Mexico City, December 18, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Waters said he was extremely affected by his tour of the West Bank, scrawling "We don’t need no thought control", lyrics from one of Pink Floyd's most popular songs, on the wall, and cancelling his performance in Tel Aviv. Instead, the British star held the concert in Neve Shalom, a cooperative village founded by Jews and Arabs.
In the letter Waters wrote announcing his support of a cultural boycott of Israel, he said that in his "view, the abhorrent and draconian control that Israel wields over the besieged Palestinians in Gaza, and the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, coupled with its denial of the rights of refugees to return to their homes in Israel, demands that fair minded people around the world support the Palestinians in their civil, nonviolent resistance."
He concluded the letter, saying that he is joining the campaign of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, until it satisfies three basic human rights he claims are demanded by international law.
He called on Israel to end the occupation of the West Bank and dismantle the separation fence, recognize the rights of Arab citizens of Israel and granting them full equality and allow all Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
Waters stressed in his letter that he is not anti-Semitic, and his solidarity with the Palestinians stems from his belief that all people deserve basic human rights.
Last week, American folk music legend Pete Seeger officially joined the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign - an international movement to pressure and sanction Israel through economic means.
Seeger, 92, one of the fathers of American folk music, is a veteran political and peace activist. In the 1950s he was interrogated by the McCarthyist House Unamerican Activities Committee and two years ago performed for U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration concert.
Artists, academics and celebrities throughout the world have supported and participated in the cultural boycotting of Israel.
Earlier this year, French pop star Vanessa Paradis cancelled her concert in Israel only a month before she was supposed to arrive in the country with her partner, Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, leaving fans and pundits speculating as to the reasons for the cancellation.
Although Paradis' agent David Stern claimed that the cancellation was due to professional reasons, insiders who organized the concert claim that the singer acceded to calls to cancel the show made by Palestinian solidarity groups.
According to the same sources, it was apparently the planned visit of Paradis' partner Johnny Depp that drew the attention of the groups that advocate BDS.
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for joining us! It is the decent thing to do to stand up for human rights and dignity. I know you won't endear yourself in certain circles. I respect you for your moral courage. Pink Floyd''s music to me sounds better than ever!
I have never heard of this Roger before, and pitom this vermin comes and tells that we the jewish people should leave the land that Hashem gave us? That was bought with real money by Avraham? That we regain control after a legitim war? Send them all to Jordan, the real Palestiniam state. This roger could also live there if he wish.
I have many strong feelings about the political nature and music of PF. That one is a coon and that ones a Jew. Who the hell let all This riffraff in to the room. There's one smoking a joint. And another one with spots. If I had my way I'd have all of them shot. Roger is a leftist. He doesnt seem to understand the realities on the ground. Teaching your children that Israel doesnt exist and should be wiped off the map is thought control. It is the darkest sarcasm in the class room. So get bck to reality rog.
Everyone knows right of return means the dissolution of Israel and that supporting that right is the same as not recognizing the right of Jews to have their own state. Water's wants more lambs to the slaughter (reference to his Animal's album, from a now former big fan). Too much LSD, he's really lost his mind.
In the picture he's playing in Mexico, a country that's run by drug cartels that murder thousands of their own people each year, yet he's not boycotting them. But oh no, Israel has a wall. Better not play there. Plus, does anyone even care about this guy?
Keep up the great work!
man is this guy out to lunch. another self agrandizing star full of himself, undereducated and naive about the DETAILS of the issue. WOW- is that strange or what!? another silly famous person with a jew hate based on ignorance and naivetee.
If the Great roger Waters one of the best song writers, musicians, icon of the 20th century thinks that this boycot can bring peace then it might be. maybe he is right. no one hates roger waters and those who do now because of this maybe they should stop and think for a second that he might have a point.
and other life-saving Israeli-invented medicaments and medical devices (there are QUITE a few). you have to do a COMPLETE job. don't just stop at oranges.
Hé occupation supporter, grow a heart and a bit of humanity, maybe then you will understand!!
Excelent Performer. That doesn't mean he understands anything about middle east politics. Why doesn't he sing in Ghaza for free to the palestinian people? Why did he come to sing in Israel when things were worst for Pals?
Also, is he also boycotting Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Siria and Iraq for they treatment of the palestinians? Did he saw how the israeli arabs are leaving here in comparison to the arabs in the neighborhood? As you said, Excelent Performer, point.
Please go read about the history of the Falklands. You will find that the British claim to the islands is much stonger than the Argentinians. I do think that the oil resources should be shared, but the people living there want to remain under British rule (and btw, no ethnic cleansing occured on those Islands, so the descendants on the Argentinian colonists have also had there say in the matter).
Waters supports 'the Palestinians in their civil, nonviolent resistance.' What? Does this man not know why the wall was erected to begin with!??! Antifada?? What an ignorant, arrogant celeb. Grasping to stay relevant by getting on a political platform that no MUSICIAN should step on. RETIRE Roger Waters! You were never the talent of Pink Floyd anyway
Having 2 states is the best solution still, even if the posibility is being eroded by the settler enterprise. As long as it remains alive, Israel still has a chance to remain a predominantly Jewish nation. A first step should be to at least move the separation wall so that it conforms with the rulings of the Israeli supreme court. Another step should be to halt the cosntruction in settlements. Admittedly, it is very unlikely that the Plestinian refugees will be allowed to return, but instead reparations should be made to them, as well as the Jews forced out of their native countries. However, if 1 state solution becomes the only possibility, then Israel will likely be forced to accede to the right of return, and lose its Jewish majority in the process. I would advise proponents of a Greater Israel to give this some serious thought. You cannot have it both ways.
well once again the stupid 'left' see only wrong doing with the victims of this mass anti Israel campaign. what about the lack of human rights and all the other indignities suffered by the masses in ALL the arab countries? why not boycott them too too chicken to do the right thing eich mer a mensch
You think the Left can't be Right, and the Right can't be wrong. You think that, and that's just how it is. How alike you are to those entrenched Arabs who hate our guts.are. And if you were born a Palestinian..what then? Of course, you would hate us.
Dark side or Zionism... I will support this boycott and will not buy anything made in Israel
YOUR ANTI SEMITIC COMMENTS WONT BE MISSED !
A selective boycott of the only true democracy in the middle east which free press and dozens of human rights groups. Left wingers have always been morally bankrupt, but this takes it to a whole new level. Waters probably marched with his fellow white, pasty, middle class Brits saying "we're all Hezbollah" And his son likes to climb up on war memorials.
has a right to perform or not perform as he chooses. You needn't agree with him, but if his opinion and his conscience dictate that he boycott Israel, what's the problem? The voices condemning him sound like those voices condemning artists who chose to boycott South Africa during its apartheid days. If you don't agree with his position, don't boycott. It's that simple. If you agree and wish to, boycott. To use ad hominem remarks to denigrate him and others because you don't agree with their position is at best foolish.
On one side, there is a large group of entertainers boycotting Israel because of the occupation. On the opposide side, there are a few "B listers" who will go to Israel and make a "virtue of necessity". A gig is a gig. In the middle, there is by far the largest group who just want to keep away from controversy. The best way to do this is to say nothing and do nothing concerning Israel and for sure, not go to Israel. It is this silent majority that is influenced by Waters and other boycotters.
Tourism is one of the biggest industries in Israel. Millions visit every year, and it hasn't let up. 3.5 million visited last year. More than that number is projected to visit this year. Christian fundamentalists visit by the 10's of thousands.
Your comments are simply untrue. There are not a large group of entertainers boycotting Israel. Judging by last weekend's entertainment supplement we will shortly have a deluge of top level entertainment in all fields of culture (opera, classical, dance and even rock). Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I have no problem with Mr. Waters decision to boycott. He is disgusted by the security wall - he is an intelligent man and surely knows exactly why this was built. Was he disgusted by the busloads of children and adults blown up in buses and restaurants during the period before the wall was built? Did that bother him in any way at all? And what he is gabbling on about the rights of Israeli Arabs. They have full rights as Israeli citizens and I am sure that the demonstrators in our neighbouring countries and also in Libya would give a lot to enjoy their rights. And what about the UK governments attacks in Afghanistan - why no boycott of Britain? And no mention of the sufferings of the Arabs everywhere except Israel. And we are no longer in Gaza - they have their own government and it was they who choose war instead of peace.
Okay so everyone that has Pink Floyd records can now throw the away. He has no right to get involved. A guitarist and stupid druggtaker like him. BOYCOTT NO PINK FLOYD FOREVER AND EVER!
Typical reaction of the indulged Israelis.
a jewish name..... has it ever occurrred to you that these musicians never boycott anybody else... LOL, it is pathetic
so his outburst is that of a degenerate hypocrite ! these music neathandals are persons whose opinions are usually drug infested !
So an old hasbeen has an opinion....and the reason we care is because....
No Thomas we will bleat baaaaaaaaaa. humbug to you .
and so it will, eventually, to Apartheid Israel. Thank you, Mr Waters.
Where blacks had no representation in government and lived in shanty towns. Where is the comparison to Palestinians who have representation in the Knesset and have proper housing even if dirt poor.
a boycott, divestment and sanctions is that they do not understand the facts on the ground. That accusation cannot be levelled against Roger Wtares, he has been seen and listened to both sides of the story. Things are getting very serious for Israel
because of terror attacks on civilians. where it is located (on Palestinian land) is criminal but that there is a wall separating us is common sense.
propaganda is been recognize all over the world. The wall must comedown! Is time to stop taken what does not belong to you with lies!
When you get back on the Mayflower to go back to England please pass by Israel and we'll throw you a kiss.You Americans are not the native population of the Americas while the semitic Hebrews are the native population of Israel.
Take down YOUR monstrous wall which prevents hungry people entering your country. At least they are not trying to blow themselves up like the extremists who murdered so many after we signed a treaty with them. In the 11th September atrocity you lost about 3,000 civilians. During that dark time Israel lost the equivalent of 30,000 people (proportionate). Many of those people were Muslims. Don't we have the right to prevent terrorists from entering our country?
Visit the Jews, and it's either "Praise on him" or "Crucify him" ... I wonder where I got that ?
Do something about your corrupt, criminal government before it is too late.
of war in one of his stage performances? we can all see what kind of 'person' he is. A has-been rocker who has a problem with Jews.
and if he has a problem with Jews why did he visit israel in the first place? It is very easy to reject someone's point of view as racist without really questioning what he actually said. I suggest you read the article again
You will be lambasted by all the fascists, but you are spot on.
You will be lambasted by all the fascists, but you are spot on.
Then listen to him in this song and judge for yourself without any prejedices! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMMHepfYVc
Barak has already said that the Israeli govt will not accept/vote for a Palestinian State. I'm a Pink Floyd fan, now.
keep playing music roger, you have lots of talent. mixing yourself up in issues deeper than you understand - best for you to stay comfortably numb and stay on that guitar. ben. a disappointed ex-Pink Floyd fan.
while mr waters looks much better now than he did during his floyd days...he lost his voice long ago, as a result of his lack of training he cant sing anymore, so he opens his mouth and spews idiocies and let us not forget....mr waters...that lover of human rights...did absolutely nothing, while his alleged friend and the true artist of the band, sid...slowly degenerated into madness oh thats right...he did do something...he created a career for the band by releasing album after album about the descent into madness what a pig
He is only a musician. Not politician, not statesman, even not a middle east residant.. so who cares what he thinks. Hw has no better judment than anyone. I guess he is not intellegant too. Also, his musics sucks. Electronic rules!!
or does he.
and another racist All he is asking for is equal rights for israeli Arabs. why does that make you uncomfortable.
Ask the Israeli arabs who serve on every level of the Israeli court system, including sitting on the supreme court bench. Ask the senior ranking Druze police and army commanders. Ask the Israeli arabs serving in and running the various branches of the civil service in Israel. Ask the approx 50% of Israeli arab state funded students at Uni of Haifa. Ask all the Israeli arab women who have full benefits of the Israeli health care system, especially during pregnancy and birth. The list is endless. In a nutshell, Israeli arabs have it better that Israeli Jews, as they don't have to do national service. The arabs are not required to lose the years of 18 to 21 to defending the country from the 1.5 billion other arabs ravening at the gates for the destruction of Israel.
Because there are other problems around the world and he has never spoken out about those.
Israeli Arabs have full rights in every field and enjoy priviledges unknown to the Egyptians, Libyans, Bahreinis etc. who are desperately trying to throw off their despotic leaders. I am still waiting for Mr. Waters to mention them. And those who don't accept his comments are not racists - we just don't understand why he objects to a security wall which was built to prevent terrorist attacks after hundreds of Israeli civilians were blown up. I know how the British police the UK in their hunt for terrorists - do you object to that?
If these singers and rock groups stay away from Israel,it will be Israel's gain and their loss.They do nothing to improve Israel's society,actualy they do more harm than good. Roger Waters just repeats what he hears,just like parrotts do.If he had bothered to delve into the situation,he would not have made these comments,or is he just a pretty polly?
Do they get gigs in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Jordon, Iran, Yemen, Tunisia, Russia, Turkey. The picture shows him playing in Mexico. A country run by drug lords and cartels who shoot up their competition everyday.
Thank you, Mr Waters. Hopefully, this will encourage more international artists to isolate Israel.
Israel is not the Jewish nation, it does not even make up 50% of the Jewish and is in fact a source of great shame for many of the millions of Jews living outside Israel.
Israel is the homeland of the Jewish nation. And Israel is a source of great pride for the millions in the diaspora as it is called. Never again.
Good on you!! Shame on you, David Gilmour!
and may many follow you. It is time these selfish, deluded so called "light unto the nationers" recognized their own human rights abuses. I would rather listen to Roger Waters and his like, than the bunch of corrupt politicians than run Israel and speak for its people. Rock on!
Pink Floyd were a great band - one of my all time favourite. Waters uses 'appalling edifice' to describe the security wall. Well, I've got some news for you sunshine. It's not supposed to be a structure of beauty, it was built to keep terrorists and suicide bombers out. And does it's job very well. But perhaps Waters would prefer these bombers to succeed in their mission. I do recall however, Waters being vile in the way he treated his fellow band members, not to mention spitting at his fans - appalling! disgraceful human being. He goes on and "demands that fair minded people around the world support the Palestinians in their civil, nonviolent resistance." AHH.. Hello is there anybody in there???? suicide missions, rocket attacks, kidnappings, stabbings. Call that nonviolent- Rog? He stresses that all people deserve basic human rights. Agree! Have you (Roger) addressed the issue on Hamsas, PLO, Fatah on how they treat their own people? Roger, we don't need any of your 're-education' and we certainly don't need any of your 'thought control.' Perhaps it time for you to check-in at the fletcher memorial home, hey Rog?
is a memory of the blood laden streets of Tel Aviv, strewn with the bodies and limbs of dead women and children. The bombings seemed endless. Now there is a fence, a grotesque monstrosity but it serves a purpose. We look upon these pornographic images no more and from an Israeli point of view, that can't be bad. However, I have always respected this man. This man has soul as do many of those who are currently boycotting Israel. From where we sit, in our armchairs the Palestinians are the underdogs and people who believe in Human rights always support the underdog especially since so many Palestinians have lost, and continue to lose their homes and their lives. I have no answers, but ceasing the Settler enterprise, sending these Americans and Eastern Europeans back either into Israel or home would at least be a starting point and a basis for peace talks. Waters will not achieve his aim since the return of millions of Palestinians back into Israel is a non starter since it would signal the end of Israel, the homeland of the Jews. Waters seems to forget this. He seems to forget why the state of Israel was so important for our race to find peace, in their own land. The peace that Waters has always known. He is anti war. I respect him for this, but it a luxury Israelis cannot afford to feel because a "Hudna" is not Peace and they need Peace. Aren't they going about it the wrong way, you may well ask. Most definitely. Israel is lost, but they can't see it. That which gives them the strength to live continuously at war with their neighbors is also their weakness because they cannot empathize with the downcast and forlorn in the Palestinian nation. So I guess I am, like so many Jews, conflicted. I love the idea of Israel but I detest their policies and their ideals. Trouble is, I see Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Burma, Yemen, Tunisia, Libya, East Timor, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Indonesia and I wonder, What makes the Palestinian so different? Isn't the end game the demise of Israel? Sure, but Waters doesn't think ahead and if he did he would also be going round in a circle, like so many of us in the Diaspora. In the end we have to listen to our hearts and my heart is heavy, but I can't help feeling that what Israel is doing is wrong. Finally, there are two things for which I will never forgive Israel, I don't care what anyone else does but I cannot understand why she used Cluster bombs in Lebanon and Phosphorous in Gaza. I will never understand this and that saddens me more than anything.
A deep support for Israel but a loathing its methods of controlling a beaten people
Good for him! Good for Pete Seeger. And about time too. Israel has to be made to understand that its behaviour is no longer acceptable.
"Acceptable" Man, that's kind of funny. Nothing that any country I see doing is "acceptable." Let's boycott every single country that is doing things not "acceptable" to be fair. Gosh, what a joke.
Roger has been pretty good about staying out of the political arena, until now. I guess its back to listening to Led Zeppelin. I'm done with him. Boycott Pink Floyd!!
WHY WOULD ANYONE TAKE TO HEART WHAT A ROCK POP BRAIN FRIED 60'S CHILD HAVE TO SAY ANYWAY.
You well heeled big wheel, ha ha charade you are. And when your hand is on your heart, You're nearly a good laugh, Almost a joker
Well-meaning but superficially informed artists who only partially grasp the context of the conflict are building a wall --nor removing one --by encourgaging the Arabs to harden their positions and avoid dialogue.
Time to boycott Pink Floyd. Rogers Waters has become an anti Semite.
You know, I happen to disagree with a boycott, but believing that it's a good idea doesn't make Roger Waters an anti-semite.
How predictable. Rather than stick to the point and argue the case with some intelligence the first resort is always the accusation of anti-semitism.
With all the repression across the world...much worse and less deserved than what take place in Israel, why single them up and hold the to a much higher standard? Because they are Jews. That is the definition of Antisemitism!