Portico Quartet. Pressured by pro-Palestinian groups
Photo: Jamie Leith
Eilat festival faces boycott over E1 plan
Portico Quartet cancels participation in southern Israeli city's Red Sea Jazz Festival following government's decision to build new housing units in West Bank settlements
VIDEO - London-based jazz band Portico Quartet has decided to cancel its participation in the winter edition of the Red Sea Jazz Festival, scheduled to take place in the southern Israeli city of Eilat in January, following the government's new settlement construction plan.
In a letter sent to the festival's producers, the band members informed them of their decision not to visit Israel in response to the government's decision to build 3,000 new housing units in the E1 area, which Palestinians claim will break up the territorial continuity of a future state.
Portico Quartet. Not coming to Israel
According to the letter, ever since the band's participation in the Eilat festival was publicized, its members have been receiving many letters from pro-Palestinian organizations urging them to cancel their performance.
Festival producers said Sunday that the British band's decision had taken them by surprise and that the festival's artistic director, Dubi Lenz, was working to find a replacement.
Portico Quartet was founded seven years ago and has released three albums so far. Over the years the band has gained popularity among jazz fans and is best known for its use of the Hang, a 21st Century percussion instrument.
