The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been urged to abandon a planned gig in Israel, after it emerged that they performed at a pro-Palestinian gig that raised over US$500,000. The superstar band, who have won seven Grammy Awards and sold over 65 million albums worldwide, are due to perform in Tel Aviv on September 10, days after gigs in Beirut and Istanbul. [Link]
Here’s an excerpt of the letter:
Open letter from Lebanon to the Red Hot Chili Peppers: “Come to Lebanon, but not to Israel: Until All Palestinians Have the Right of Return”
25 April 2012
Dear Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Last November you played at a benefit for Palestinian refugee children at Cafe de Paris in London. Your decision to support Palestinian refugees must have come from an understanding that for 64 years Palestinians have been denied the right to return to their land and to be compensated for loss incurred by the Zionist colonization of their land. Fighting for the implementation of this right is the central tenet of the Palestinian Boycott National Committee and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). As a result, we find it strange that less than a month after your benefit concert you announced your decision to play in Israel.
There’s nothing strange about this decision. They are not politically affiliated yet wouldn’t mind promoting causes if asked to. How hard is that to understand?
Lara Fabian cancelled her concert back in February in Lebanon after receiving a similar letter. [Link]
At this rate, we will only be allowed to watch U2, Gorillaz and Roger Waters performing in Lebanon. Isn’t Wiz Khalifa performing soon in Lebanon? Hasn’t he been to “Israel” yet? How about Charles Aznavour? Chris de Burgh? The Cranberries? Tom Jones? Shakira?
When are we going to stop this nonsense? Should we label the Lebanese who attend those concerts as traitors or collaborators as well?
Thanks for the post, since we all know that a military solution is out of the question, I personally think that if all the artists would join hands, a cultural boycott on Israel would be very effective, and would create a hell of an internal crisis in Israel urging the country to change it’s abusive policies towards it’s neighbors.
even though it’s a long shot, i don’t think these kind of letters should stop, but they should be oriented towards raising awareness and not scaring the artists away. Artists, that have already performed in Israel or are planing to, should also be 100% welcome to perform in Lebanon as well. ACTIVISTS WAKE UP!! are only doing ourselves harm by refusing to receive them. And every time we suppress ourselves culturally, Israel wins one.
Who would those artists be? If anyone values their career would not join such a group unless they plan only to perform in Afghanistan or Iran.
Lebanon needs to be able to take care of their own citizens before trying to take care of the rights of citizens of other countries…
Well said …
Elie,
I really like your answer. Brings up very good points!
AKH.
I’m SO over this issue, it’s a CONCERT. Get over it, there’s not politics. Palestine, Israel, balout khalas. The band has Arab fans, be Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian or whatever, AND Jewish fans.
People need to get over themselves!
Nice one Elie,
People should put things into perspective.
It’s not just a “concert” nothing is really what it is if you look deeper.
IF you play in a terrorist state then you are showing support to apartheid by saying that everything is fine and we’re here performing music.
Note that Palestinians will not actually be able to attend the concert…SO Palestinian fans in Palestine will not be able to see RHCP. Sounds fair to you?
We should stop thinking selfishly. For people who are against the petition it is obvious that they have no relation to the cause whatsoever…
I’d love to see what you would do if someone steals your phone : )
Perspective. Think about it