Israeli singer Dudu Tassa and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood responded Tuesday to the cancellation of their upcoming concerts in Bristol and London, which were scrapped following pressure from the pro-Palestinian BDS movement.
In a joint statement, the two musicians wrote: "Meekly agreeing to be silenced without some response feels wrong.”
They said the June concerts were canceled after venues and staff — who they stressed had no connection to the political debate—received “credible threats” that convinced the pair it would not be safe to proceed.
The post criticized claims by boycott organizers that the campaign was not censorship or a silencing of artists. "Its organizers can’t have it both ways," they wrote. “Forcing musicians not to perform and denying people who want to hear them an opportunity to do so is self-evidently a method of censorship and silencing.
Tassa and Greenwood warned that threats made against the venues wouldn't advance “the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves.” They said that while boycott organizers celebrated the cancellation as a win, they saw it as a loss: "We see nothing to celebrate and don’t find that anything positive has been achieved.
They defended their project, which features collaborations with artists from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq, saying the band is united by a shared love for Arabic music, regardless of background. " The silencing campaign has demanded that the venues “reaffirm (their) commitment to ethical, inclusive cultural programming."
They emphasized that “art exists above and beyond politics,” and that music celebrating shared identity across Middle Eastern borders should be encouraged, not condemned. "Artists should be free to express themselves regardless of their citizenship or their religion – and certainly regardless of the decisions made by their governments.”
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The duo noted that they’ve been criticized from both sides — by the right for playing “the ‘wrong’ kind of music too inclusive, too aware of the rich and beautiful diversity of Middle Eastern culture.
“For some on the left, we’re only playing it to absolve ourselves of our collective sins. We dread the weaponisation of this cancellation by reactionary figures as much as we lament its celebration by some progressives," they wrote.
They went on to quote a recent statement by Irish band Kneecap — known for its pro-Palestinian activism and anti-Israel slogans at Coachella last month: " As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom … In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people.”
Tassa and Greenwood added: "We have no judgement to pass on Kneecap but note how sad it is that those supporting their freedom of expression are the same ones most determined to restrict ours.”
Addressing those who questioned the significance of their canceled gigs amid the war in Gaza, they wrote: “We agree completely with people who ask: ‘how can this be more important than what’s happening in Gaza and Israel?’ They’re right – it isn’t. How could it be? What, in anyone’s upcoming cultural life, is?”
They ended the post with praise for their fellow musicians: “We feel great admiration, love and respect for all the performers in this band, especially the Arab musicians and singers who have shown amazing bravery and conviction in contributing to our first record, and in touring with us.
“Their artistic achievements are toweringly important, and we hope one day you will get to hear us play these songs – love songs mostly – together with us, somewhere, somehow. If that happens, it won’t be a victory for any country, religion, or political cause. It’ll be a victory for our shared love and respect of the music – and of each other.”
The cancellation followed BDS claims that the project “whitewashed Israel’s genocide against 2.3m Palestinians in Gaza.” The boycott campaign also pointed to the pair’s performance in Tel Aviv a year ago as evidence. The group alleged the two artists were “willingly acting as a cultural ambassador for apartheid Israel.”