Boy George stands with Israel, so where are the rest of the world's artists? - editorial
In November, when he performs at the same arena that Hynde did nine years ago, George will undoubtedly reenact the flag-waving scene, and the crowd will once again shake the rafters in pride.
Nine years ago, Chrissie Hynde, frontwoman of The Pretenders, appeared at an Israeli arena celebrating Israel. In today's climate, such a scenario is almost unimaginable. International artists have largely shunned Israel, with some even fueling antisemitic accusations.
Ed Sheeran's attempt to navigate the "Free Palestine" controversy by expressing empathy for both sides led to his vilification by the pro-Palestinian community. Boy George and Michael Rappaport, however, have unreservedly supported Israel since the October 7 massacre. Rappaport has visited Israel multiple times and plans to perform there next week, while George recently released a song in honor of the Nova music festival victims and announced his own upcoming visit to Israel.
Despite the widespread condemnation of Israel, influential artists like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon remain silent. It is understandable why some might avoid the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but those who do stand up against the demonization of Israel deserve commendation. Boy George's performance in Tel Aviv, much like Hynde's nine years ago, exemplifies such courage. However, the glaring question remains: where are the rest of the artists?
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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