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Photo: Reuters
Roger Waters. Only country criticized in concert is Iran
Photo: Reuters

Diplomatic mission: Roger Waters show

Deputy ambassador in Athens sent to former Pink Floyd frontman's concert in search of anti-Israel, anti-Semitic messages

The Israeli Embassy staff in Athens must have been quite surprised upon receiving the following order from Jerusalem: Send a representative to the Roger Waters concert immediately.

 

Recently, the Foreign Ministry received reports that the former Pink Floyd front man's concert, "The Wall," which is being performed in Athens these days, is filled with clear anti-Israel and anti-Semitic messages.

 

The reports joined claims made by the Anti-Defamation League that video clips aired during the concert show Jewish Stars of David attached to dollar signs, planes dropping bombs in the shape of Stars of David and pictures of Israeli soldiers and suffering Palestinians.

 

In light of this information, the Foreign Ministry's department for combating anti-Semitism ordered the Israeli Embassy in Athens to look into the claims.

 

At first, the embassy searched for a Jewish community representative planning to go to the show. After failing to find anyone, Deputy Ambassador Yossi Moustaki was asked to buy himself a concert ticket.

 

Moustaki listed his impressions from the show in a telegram sent to Jerusalem, in which he refuted every single claim made against Rogers.

 

According to the deputy ambassador, IDF soldiers are presented in the concert regardless of the Palestinians, and the only country directly criticized by Waters is Iran, with pictures showing Iranian human activists being killed while protesting against the government.

 

As for the anti-Semitism claims, Moustaki wrote that "crosses appear alongside the Stars of David, and yet no one is claiming that the concert is anti-Christian." He added, by the way, that he did not enjoy the music at the show.

 

In recent years, Waters has been urging international artists not to perform in Israel and has even posted a clip on YouTube, calling on Israelis to oppose the "boycott law" recently adopted by the Knesset.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.01.11, 14:04
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