Radiohead in Israel: A fig leaf for apartheid
Al JazeeraBritish rock band’s decision to play in Tel Aviv has inadvertently demonstrated just why the BDS movement makes sense. British rock band Radiohead’s insistence on playing in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, in violation of the global boycott of Israel, has shocked and disappointed many fans. A fig leaf for apartheid Last month, the Israeli government’s official twitter account triumphantly quoted Yorke’s comment that BDS is a “waste of energy”. Culture as propaganda As part of its official “Brand Israel” campaign, the foreign ministry has funded artists’ overseas tours on the proviso they sign a contract recognising themselves as “service providers” hired “to promote the policy interests of the State of Israel via culture and art”. Nissim Ben-Sheetrit, deputy director general of the campaign, has explained: “We are seeing culture as a hasbara tool of the first rank, and I do not differentiate between hasbara and culture.” And in 2009, after Israel killed more than 1,300 Palestinians in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, foreign ministry official Arye Mekel spoke explicitly of the need to “show Israel’s prettier face” to counteract the global outrage caused by this slaughter.
History of this topic
Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood responds to backlash over Israel show and ‘artwashing genocide’ accusations
The Independent
Radiohead in Israel: A fig leaf for apartheid
Al Jazeera
Radiohead need to join the cultural boycott of Israel – why won’t they meet with me to discuss it?
The Independent
Radiohead greeted with shouts of 'free Palestine' at Glastonbury set amid Israel controversy
The Independent
UK band Radiohead breaks silence on Israel concert
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