Leonard Cohen urged to call off Israel concert
Belfast Telegraph reports pro-Palestinian groups will rally outside singer's concert in city and call on him to cancel September show in Tel Aviv
Palestinian and pro-Palestinian organizations are threatening to rally outside Leonard Cohen's concert in Belfast, Ireland Sunday as part of a global campaign meant to persuade the singer to cancel his performance in Israel, The Belfast Telegraph reported.
Cohen is scheduled to perform in Israel on September 24.
According to the Telegraph, a similar rally took place in New York about three months ago, when Jewish and Muslim protestors gathered outside Radio City Hall during the Canadian singer's show.
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign told the Telegraph pro-Palestinian supporters had pleaded with the musician to cancel the Tel Aviv concert. However, he has refused.
“Palestinian representatives and organizations campaigning throughout the world against the ruthless policies of Israel towards the Palestinian people — and particularly given the recent horrendous military onslaught on Gaza — have pleaded with Cohen to cancel this event in Israel in protest at its policies,” the group said.
“The Ireland Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has also written to the singer asking him not to go ahead with his Tel Aviv show.”
Two months ago it was reported that in addition to his concert in Tel Aviv, Cohen will give another show in Ramallah. However, pressure from the PACBI organization (Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) apparently caused the organizers to cancel the show.
