Lorde’s human rights hypocrisy
NEW Zealand singer Lorde has received worldwide condemnation from Jewish leaders and personalities for supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel by withdrawing from a concert in Tel Aviv.
NEW Zealand singer Lorde has received worldwide condemnation from Jewish leaders and personalities for supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel by withdrawing from a concert in Tel Aviv.
The young performer announced in December that she would perform in Tel Aviv in June this year, but only a week later said that after receiving “an overwhelming number of messages and letters” she decided it was “the right decision” to cancel the show.
“I pride myself on being an informed young citizen, and I had done a lot of reading and sought a lot of opinions before deciding to book a show in Tel Aviv, but I’m not too proud to admit I didn’t make the right call on this one.”
It has been revealed that she made the decision after a letter from a Jew and a Palestinian, both living in New Zealand.
Lorde has been slammed for the decision, which is based on alleged human rights abuses against the Palestinians, because she will still perform in Russia during the same tour.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff said Lorde has been “caught in the BDS campaign without giving due thought to the inconsistency, perhaps even hypocrisy” of performing in Russia.
“When they (artists) perform it does not mean that they endorse the policies of that country or that government,” Alhadeff said.
“Lorde is due to perform in Russia. She doesn’t seem to suggest that she necessarily supports the policies of President Putin, his involvement in the war in Syria or his involvement in Crimea, so it’s an interesting call she has made not to perform in Israel.”
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said he is “deeply disappointed” Lorde has singled out Israelis for discrimination and delegitimisation.
“Lorde has succumbed to a relentless campaign that uses malicious double standards to isolate and malign Israel,” Abramovich said.
“Lorde’s only ‘crime’ was that she wanted to share her singing prowess with the people of Israel – Jews, Muslims and Christians – in the only democracy in the Mid-east where artistic expression is thriving.
“The only way to move towards a two-state solution is through cooperation, not cultural and economic vandalism that ultimately seeks to destroy the Jewish state.”
The entertainer was labelled as a bigot in a full-page advertisement placed in the Washington Post by prominent rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s organisation, The World Values Network.
“Lorde joined a global anti-Semitic boycott of Israel but will perform in Russia, despite Putin’s support for Assad’s genocide in Syria,” the advert said.
“In choosing to align herself with those committed to Israel’s fiscal destruction, Lorde broke with some of the greatest names in modern music, including Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Radiohead, Alicia Keyes and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
The advert said it’s time to take a stand against intolerance.
It called for a boycott of the boycotters to “tell Lorde and her fellow bigots that Jew-hatred has no place in the 21st century”.
JOSHUA LEVI
comments