British academics urge Elton John to cancel Israel concert

Politics is never black and white, and there is so much going on beneath the surface that the whole world sees. Corruption is everywhere, no matter what side you are on. That's why I hate it. I choose music. Why does politics always have to interfere in art's business? Why further seperate and alienate people instead of trying to bring them together with the power of John's sparkly, pink, star-shaped glasses?

If Elton needs to do some reading ( or have someone read it to him), Try reading the exploits of Sir Piggish Churchill, who single handily tried to destroy all the Jews in Europe while using Hitler as his proxy. We don't need anymore English interference in Israel Thank You. If he really wants to make a stand for Israel, he needs to perform in Tel Aviv wearing the star of David on his shirt and denounce all the atrocities done during WWII and condemn the British leadership that turned away thousands of Jews and sent them back to the concentration camps of Europe and Cyprus. Maybe then he would get some respect from the israelis that will no doubt pay way to much money to see this pitiful creature try too perform on stage once again. God help us all!

The last thing Elton John did was Your Song and Good Bye Yellow Brick Road, which John Lennon wrote for him. If he didn't play in Israel, the world will go on. But to not play because that bastard Goldstone Thinks it would be wrong is just enough reason to do it. I say go for it Elton, and if you need a real guitarist, I'll play your songs like they should have been played. Just please leave Eric at home. We've heard his lick before. His slow hand has fallen off. And is there really such a thing as British academics? Oh yeah, they got their daddy to send them to school to try to learn something..anything. Well, it didn't work. You still have everything screwed up in your minds and as long as you try to think about issues , you always end up on the silly end of the equation. Oh well, try again, next time maybe you can boycott yourselves from entering Britain. Peace, Little boys. Elton is throwing a fit - better go get him under control!

group and he knows that the Goldstone report was biased and unfair. He knows that Israeli children were rocketed by Hamas and that the fault lies in the Palestinian leadership.

Its actually punishment for the continued settlement building, if you continue Sting will follow. "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through"

b"H If Elton John gives in to the pressure and cancels, then: 1) Jews here and around the world should discontinue buying his CDs, etc. 2) Jews here and around the world should boycot publications by UK academics, who urged him to cancel

Both will play anywhere that there are people foolish enough to pay $200 for a ticket. Both are money whores. Israeli's apartheid policies are irrelevent to them, so long as they get paid.

I don't think that is what Sir Elton has in mind. Now, why don't you go outside and play and conjur up your memories of the good ole days in SA. You seem to be transferring.

They didn't keep the ex-Beatle Paul MacCartney away by threatening to kill him so it doesn't seem too likely that this other pop star will be frightened of a lying petition signed by a few posh academics. But Israel has better music of its own.

OK, Sir Elton John - this is when you show if you have balls, or not!

...because they aren't dead. Did you forget how many Gaza children were murdered in two weeks by Israel? "They may cause thousands of Jewish children psychological damage, but what the hell, as long as you can`t see the scars"

Who dat say they gonna support the terrorists? The Brits, that's who. And their PC "academics." What a farce! I agree with the other poster who said the Brits are partly to blame for this. Their imperial legacy drags on through so many of the world's conflicts.

"#16 labarse of arabia and elton in dublin 2 vh aka ph we managed to get that part back and it is officially our capital---unlike Jerusalem. Why we even have an americam embassy there, unlike Israel. "elton playing in britain while the british army is pounding afghanistan and iraq!"vh aka ph I live in Ireland stoopid--what elton john does in england is not my problem unless he supports the war in Iraq or afghanistan--then I will boycott his concert. Dont you ever think before posting .

I'm going to go buy an Elton John CD today.

Looking forward to a brighter future .

Israel is a cultural world center . Every prominent wants to perform in Israel , it is a badge of honor to get there . It is true , they are not braking down doors in any of Arab/Muslim countries .

Several questions please:1; Are these really academics? (In Britain the sanitary "engineers" are counted as "Academics", this being politically correct. 2. It must be remembered that Britain has a large part of guilt in the Israel/Palestine problem. Just as in every country which used to be part of the British Empire (policy was "divide to reign and conquer". 3. British? Who a

After Israel' shameful assault on Gaza and the mass collective killing and punishment of its civilian population to this day things have changed. The massive evidence based report by the Goldstone Commission documents in horrifying detail what Israel did in Gaza. Israel has always used the civilian Palestinian (and Lebanese) population as a prime target. Zeev Schiff, Israel's senior military correspondent and analyst, acknowledged this. It was the case from 1948 to the present day. After "Cast Lead" Israel has become the pariah of the world in the eyes of many. It professes to be a civilized, democratic country, so we can demand proper standards. Artists must realize that to go and perform in Israel is to give moral legitimacy to a state that commits war crimes and continues to routinely violate international law in its occupation of Palestian territory. This is unacceptable. Boycott, divestment and sanctions is the proper way forward.

this guy must be snorting the white stuff again. he has to be out of his mind to perform for this little scitzo, paranoid, keep war going till the end of times state.

elton playing in britain while the british army is pounding afghanistan and iraq! but does elton get the opportunity to see what they are doing labarse ! why dont you give up posting till you find aspare brain !

he can play in were the man and the woman can come to the concert together

You make the Israelis feel proud! Wow, such clout. "The Israeli attitude is driving the whole of the ME over the edge". Unfortunately your people are blind to the so called "big picture". It is not Israelis that are blowing up arabs in Iraq, Yemen and a catalogue of muslim countries, none of which really give a damn about the Palestinians. However, the mantra suits all of you. Stop hurting or even trying to hurt Israel and it will not kick the s**t out of you. As simple as that. Tell your brothers to stop preaching hate and from poisoning children, who will only grow up to inherit misery. The billions that have been wasted by the Palestinians would have created a vast paradise able to accomodate tens of millions had it not been squandered and pocketed by corrupt leaders. Wake up!!!

Israel concert because amongst many things they are also knee-deep in ethnic cleansing. They forgot to check this part of the propaganda,"Ethnic Cleansing"means the destruction of a community or race.May I ask where this is taking place?? Walling up 1.5 million people in a ghetto?where? walling them out of Israel,yes,into Gaza no. Actually in this case it is the Egyptians that have walled the Palestinians in not Israel.

But his playing in TA or Ramat Gan is unconscionable and he should cancel the tour.

That's why the show must go on!

you are a great musician , play the concert and carry on giving pleasure to the public.

territory then he opened the door for academia anywhere to boycott anything Israeli. I wish them well --but I doubt the GOI will be taking him on a facts finding trip to Gaza.Probably wont be any time left after his vists to Sderot. Balanced my backside.

There is just as much- no more- information out there that says differently. Examined, things are not black and white at all. The Palestinians not victims , the Israelis not aggressors. Each has it's own responsibility in this and each is not innocent.

its only a matter of time ,, cause the israeli attitude is driving the whole of the middle east over the edge, so when that happens , well you know the answer to that,, millions and millions of lives and destruction on both sides, really is that what yous want,im sure not , so come on look at the big picture from both sides not just yours,, is it because you know america is behind yous and you behave like this,,,

They are whining because they are spoiled by naives in western countries.

...failures in life who, from the safety of their ivy-covered cowards castles, heckle and jeer a nation bravely struggling to survive.

if he just keeps himself seated on that stage in Tel Aviv then he would not be alinging himself with rascists. look forward to your concert.

God dose not judge a person by being academic or not; but by each individual according to his own behaviour towards his fellow Man ! To urge some one like Elton John to cancel a concert dose not go well with a good behaviour ! Music is for the people & the people are, by their own name a mixture of every one ! The U.K academics made themselves less academic by urging to cancel a music concert !

Of course Sir Elton is playing in Ramat Gan, he could hardly play in homophobic Ramallah or Gaza City could he?

the British Committee for Universities of Palestine? Those "academics" are unfortunately in the political "urging" business, not in studying academical subjects... that's why they are so backward.

This is obviously a group of leftie students, to call them academics gives them more credit. SERIOUSLY!, I can write a letter like this to ask for him not to cancel, why is this newsworthy? Elton John is a princess, he will be here camping it up with the best of them. Before you all start screaming Londonstan and that tired old rubbish. Remember, you would sound as brain washed as that Islamic group that the UK government destroyed last month, they shut down their websites, threat of jail to members and supporters. Technically, your statements is the SAME as what that Islamic group Islam4UK would spout. That group is now outlawed. That doesnt sound very Islamic of the UK.

While these misguided fools bicker about things they know little about, the UAE has policies in place that clearly and publicly discriminate based on nationality and race. This is prevalent in the UAE classifieds section for jobs. Europeans only. Arabs only with high education. etc etc. If only these armchair global experts got off the sofa and spent time in places they seem to have an opinion of, then they would be wiser. Those that can.... do, and those that cant...teach.

They may cause thousands of Jewish children psychological damage, but what the hell, as long as you can't see the scars.

So what's your point. But there will be Israeli Arabs if they want to attend.

It will be very sad if EJ gives into this demand. This letter personifies what is so wrong with current political debate. It is hijacked by the extremists from both ends o the spectrum. Yes, Israel's conduct in Gaza should be examined but equally there needs to be greater focus on how the Palestinians have spent years deliberately firing rockets at Israeli civilian targets. I don't know how knowledgeable EJ is about the situation but someone should put the other side of the equation to him.

and many others who live outside the rarefied atmosphere of one eyed lefty group think.