Annie Lennox: I have no interest in visiting Israel
Pop icon and stanch critic of Israel's policy in Gaza tells Observer she was 'really hurt' by accusations of anti-Semitism. 'It's a pack of nonsense,' she says
"I don't have any interest to go to Israel. I don't think I'd ever have a cause to go. It would be too volatile (to perform), I think, because people get carried away and they twist what you say," pop icon Annie Lennox told The Observer.
In the interview, published by the British magazine Sunday to mark the release of her new single and her nomination for the Barclays Woman of the Year Award, the former Eurythmics singer addressed her criticism of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, launched in December 2008. "I was critical of Israel's policy of bombing Gaza, that was populated by mainly children in a space where they couldn't escape from. I said that it was not the way forward to peace," she explained.
'Not the way to peace.' Lennox performs with Dave Stewart (Archive: AP)
At the time Lennox flatly rejected claims that in attending a demonstration against Israel, she was effectively supporting Hamas. She was also accused of naivety and even anti-Semitism.
"That really hurt," she told the Observer, "and it's a pack of nonsense. My children are half-Israeli. Why should I ever be anti-Semitic?"
Lennox also told the British magazine that her Israeli ex-husband respected her stand and told her there were many Israelis who were proud of her.
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