After receiving pressure from Palestinian, Israeli and other activist groups, rap legend Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus) canceled his September show in Israel. He cited contractual differences, according to YNet News, as to why he will not extend his September “Ego Trippin” tour in Europe to Israel.

Initially, the concert was scheduled to take place in Ramat Gan, which was built on the ruins of the Palestinian village of Salama.  Salama’s 7,807 Palestinian residents were ethnically cleansed on April 25th, 1948 by Zionist militias —- three weeks before the State of Israel came into existence and the surrounding Arab armies attacked. The concert was, however, later moved to Rishon Lezion, a city that began as a Zionist settlement in 1882.

The campaign asking Snoop to not perform in Israel was part of a larger movement calling for a boycott. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and small Israeli groups were the first to write letters to Snoop.

American Palestinian solidarity activists soon followed. One wrote a letter to Snoop that citing the boycott of apartheid South Africa.  Many of the international artists also “boycotted Israel at the time, including Bob Marley.”

The letter also drew on quotes from other artists.  The much-admired reggae musician Peter Tosh sang, “Palestinians are fighting for equal rights and justice” in his song “Equal Rights.”

It also quoted contemporary hip-hop artists such as Talib Kweli.  In “Gun Music,” he rhymed, “Israelis got tanks and Palestinians got rocks.”  Other lyrics from Boots from The Coup, Kardinal Offishial and Mos Def showed a rich history of pro-Palestinian sentiments in hip-hop.

The letter also cited the growth of rap among Palestinian youth.  It argued that Israel deserves boycott since its policies will prevent the Palestinians living under occupation from attending his show.

Other artists have pulled out of performing in Israel this year, including Chris Cornell, Björk and Siouxsie Sioux.  PACBI pressured Björk, calling on her to take action against Israeli policies.  The Icelandic star was the center of controversy in China after calling out “Tibet! Tibet!” at a show in Shanghai. PACBI gathered its pressure would resonate with her politics.   She pulled out of a music festival, blaming logistical problems and the “volatile nature of the event.”

Internationally renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard boycotted Israel.  Others, such as Ken Loach, John Berger and some artists’ unions, like the Irish Aosdana, have shunned Israel, as well.

A similar campaign asking South African writer Nadine Gordimer to cancel her appearance in Israel was not successful.  She considered canceling her trip for Israel’s 60th anniversary event, but ultimately decided to visit.  She hoped to balance it out by stopping in Ramallah as well.

PACBI and others are trying to convince Mercedes Sosa, the famous Argentine singer and leftist, to cancel her scheduled performance in October.  An Israeli peace activist, Dorothy Naor, issued a letter asking Sosa to cancel. She wrote the 73 year-old performer, “Do not tarnish your own shining reputation with the grime of Israel’s occupation.”

The cultural boycott campaign is part of the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Its proponents seek to build international pressure to end Israel’s occupation and implement a just settlement based on equality.   In the absence of international powers pushing for peace, such groups hope an international grassroots campaign will help the cause of real peace.