There is no valid reason to boycott Israel period. Whatever atrocities Israel may have committed, they have been more than paid back by Arab atrocities in return. So let's call the scorecard even shall we? After all, do really think there is a moral equivalence between being blocked at a checkpoint and blowing up a schoolgirl at a falafel stand??? You sound like an intelligent person, so start thinking like one. As for the Costello/Santana/Scott-Heron boycott, they violate US Law, which explicitly prohibits observing the Arab boycott of Israel. I hope these useful idiots find themselves on the court docket soon, paying steep fines for their breaking the law and having their own concerts and recordings banned in the US for violation of the law. Here in the USA, you are strictly forbidden to refuse to do business with someone on the basis of their race, religion, sex, or national origin. So even if American Jews want to boycott Israel, the national origin prohibition puts them in violation of the law.

I could have had fun ,in a fine hotel ,got a tan on the beach and made some money entertaining people but I had to let my pretentious ego get the better of me.

Ariana, there is a growing and vibrant boycott movement against Israel as opposed to the US and Britain. The artists are lobbied by BDS groups. That's an important point that you leave out. Other than the ludicrous notion that for an artist to boycott the US or Britain without the presence of a strong boycott movement would be effective.

Ariana Melamed nobody care's about some Limey racist. There are even less that care about reading your stupid lies. Just because we support fascist Arab terrorists makes you a very small minority here.

...and demanding they not justify Israel's vile occupations with their music.

Tell you what you can go see Elvis Costello I will protest along with most Israelis not seeing him boycotting him etc. Every act of boycott is a act to delegitimize Israel.If you can't see that then I feel sorry for you. The loonie Paid EU and UK left wing in Israel have destroyed Israel. http://israelprotect.blogspot.com

I think this is his contact info from his website. www.elviscostello.com info@elviscostellouk.com or Elvis Costello 2 Kempton Cottages, Norton Road, Riseley, Rreading, RG7 1SL, UK.

Elvis Costello, he is nothing neither as a singer and nor as a human being, Who cares if he is not coming? He should perform for Hamas!

Interesting article, I agree with some of it. I don't understand why you don't boycott back though. It has nothing to do with being "in second grade". I'm guessing you simply don't want to go without.

this man is soooo not newsworthy. leave it alone. he lives in the uk, i think, and his moslem neighbors wont invite him to their declitorizing ceremonies

He knows war is around the corner. He does not want to be caught in the middle of it. These people have high connections they know more than the man in the street.

I bet he cancelled because nobody bought tickets for his cheap show.

“regrettably, there is no single act by an artist or group of artists, or art consumers, that can change the situation despite the efforts and good will.” I beg to differ. While such last minute pullouts have a minimum effect they do raise awareness among the general Israeli public that something is terribly wrong about Israel. However belated it sends a clear and strong message that because of Israel’s continued brutal oppression of the Palestinian people some artists are unwilling to ‘entertain’ Israelis. If such boycotts by bands and artists help raise awareness within the social consciousness of Israeli society this can only be seen as a good thing. Hopefully it will make mainstream Israelis pause and think: “What is so rotten about Israel that certain artists and bands will not play in this land of milk and honey?”

us and uk are civilized democratic states

I mean big deal what has he ever done that want you to go to his shows , I only heard of his name a couple of times in my life , no big deal !!!!!!!!!!

'' He who curses Israel will be cursed !''

He knows these lyrics- Elvis tries but misunderstands, ah ooh Goyim often inclined to borrow somebody's dreams till tomorrow There is no other day Let's try it another way You'll lose your mind and play Free games for may See Elvis play Soon after dark Elvis cries, ah ooh Gazing through trees in sorrow hardly a sound till tomorrow There is no other day Let's try it another way You'll lose your mind and play Free games for may See Elvis play Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh Float on a river forever and ever, Elvis There is no other day Let's try it another way You'll lose your mind and play Free games for may See Elvis play

i now wonder who writes his lyrics

Thanks Elvis. Please don't ever show up on Israel's doorstep until this land theft and occupation problem is solved with complete freedom for the Palestinians.

They dont allow loud music in nursing homes.

Elvis Costello is nothing more than a poseur who doesn't know sh*t about the situation here, and needed a good excuse to cancel his show upon realizing he sold too few tickets. Ariana on the other hand, was born and raised here, knows the situation well, yet still maintains her crazy and detached ultra-leftist positions. Worst of all, she justifies a boycott on her own country, and even suggests different ways of doing it! So, I can easily live with Costello boycotting Israel, the more acute problem is living with people like Ariana Melamed in our midst. As we say here - keep me from my "lovers", from my haters I can keep clear myself.

Morality is the judgement between right and wrong, and perhaps some people exercise that concept in regard to the illegal Israeli occupation and settlement enterprise, rather than entertain the deluded Israeli claims to the Palestinian territories, based on religious comic books and historical fantasy.

Tickets sales were likely sluggish. Costello had a couple hits in the 80s and that's about it.

Our bright Foreign Minister and others of his ilk, keep telling people, like the Russians, who they should and shouldn't talk to, and we won't allow some to speak at all, like Noam Chomsky. So here's a guy following our advice-don't talk to those with whom you disagree morally. He's just doing what WE tell everybody else to do.

If the author sees Israel in the way she describes, why does she not leaving the country?

He probably found out that not enough tickets were sold. I wouldn't be surprised that all this hullabaloo is about economics and not politics.