The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) says it regrets Paul McCartney’s insistence on going ahead with his September 25th gig in Israel despite many appeals to him to cancel it due to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians, particularly its current brutally devastating siege of 1.5 million in Gaza. In a press release, PACBI says “Not only will such a concert violate the Palestinian cultural boycott against Israel, it will convey a message that McCartney either condones or apathetically ignores Israel’s reality as a colonial power and an apartheid state that oppresses the indigenous Palestinians and occupies Arab land. Just as in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, Palestinians are asking international artists to exercise their moral responsibility by staying away from Israel until freedom, justice, equality and human rights are respected for all.”

In a recent media interview McCartney confessed, “I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come here. I refused. I do what I think, and I have many friends who support Israel.”  His comments came in response to a Sunday Express interview with the militant Islamic activist Omar Bakri Muhammad. “If he values his life Mr. McCartney must not come to Israel,” said Bakri, who has been barred from returning to the UK. “He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him.” After living in the UK for 20 years, the Syrian-born activist left in 2005 and now lives in Lebanon.

“Instead of supporting the people of Palestine in their suffering, McCartney is celebrating the atrocities of the occupiers,” Bakri said. “The one who is under occupation is supposed to be getting the help.”

Omar Barghouti, of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, called Bakri’s threat “deplorable.”  “Despite our denunciation of Paul McCartney’s effective complicity in covering up Israel’s occupation and system of racial oppression, PACBI strongly and unequivocally condemns any violent threats made against him or, for that matter, against any other cultural or academic figure who decides to visit Israel in violation of the Palestinian boycott of Israel. As a civil resistance movement whose message is anchored in an unwavering commitment to universal human rights and ethical responsibility, we strive to persuade people, to appeal to their minds and hearts to boycott Israel — through campaigns of public awareness raising and non-violent pressure — due to its occupation, racist oppression and unique system of apartheid.”

Public opinion in the UK does not support Israel’s occupation and violation of international law, according to PACBI.  “Media reports revealed, furthermore, that many in Liverpool itself are apprehensive towards McCartney’s gig in Israel. Now McCartney will have far fewer friends across the world, those who still uphold human rights and abhor apartheid,” the press release said.

It added, “Adding insult to injury, McCartney told the media, ‘I’ve heard so many great things about Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another.’ Hadn’t he heard even greater things about Sun City in South Africa, too? Would that have been enough for him to ignore the South African anti-apartheid movement’s call for boycott?

“Israel is recognized by the United Nations and the overwhelming majority of nations across the world as a repressive occupying power that maintains illegal colonies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and persistently violates international law.”

The September 25 concert in Tel Aviv will be McCartney’s first in the country. Although the Beatles had been scheduled to play there in 1965, the government cancelled the performance due to budget reasons and, per an official document, “because several politicians in the Knesset believed at the time that [their] performance might corrupt the minds of the Israeli youth”. The country recently issued an apology to the two surviving Beatles, McCartney and Ringo Starr.

Compiled reports