Answering the call of advocates for Palestinian rights, New Zealand pop singer Lorde cancelled on Sunday a concert in Israel scheduled for next summer.
The 21-year-old, who enjoyed phenomenal success while still a teenager, announced last week a Tel Aviv performance in June as part of a tour.
After criticism from international and New Zealand activists, Lorde announced on Sunday she was scraping the performance in Israel.
"I've received an overwhelming number of messages & letters and have had a lot of discussions with people holding many views, and I think the right decision at this time is to cancel the show," Lorde wrote in a statement distributed by Naranjah, the Israeli promoters of her Tel Aviv show.
"I'm not too proud to admit I didn't make the right call on this one," she said of the initial decision to perform in Israel. "I'm truly sorry to reverse my commitment to come play for you. I hope one day we can all dance."
The “Royals” singer had interacted with activists on Twitter, acknowledging their demand to cancel the Tel Aviv show and thanking them for informing her about the issue.
Noted! Been speaking w many people about this and considering all options. Thank u for educating me i am learning all the time too
— Lorde (@lorde) December 21, 2017
In a statement to AFP, Naranjah said: "We forgive Lorde and wish her a successful tour in Russia and the US."
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, whose activists urged Lorde to cancel her event in Israel, says it is inspired by the campaign that targeted South Africa's apartheid regime and is seeking an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank.
In July, BDS activists failed to get Radiohead to call off its show in Tel Aviv despite heavy pressure from artists such as Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and director Ken Loach.
Palestinians thanked Lorde on social media for her decision.
Another #BDS Victory!!
Beautiful, Talented, and Very Smart Singer #Lorde cancels her concert in Israel, refusing to play in the #Apartheid State that systematically Occupies, Terrorizes & Oppresses #Palestinians 24/7#GroupPalestine#PalestineImmortal#قروب_فلسطيني#قروب_جزائسطينpic.twitter.com/FI37UBEmou— ✿ᾄмὄᾗ ➸ ( мὗᾗᾄ ❥ᴸ̲ᵒ̲ᵛ̲ᵋ̲ᵧₒᵤ✿) (@amon_7ps) December 25, 2017
Proponents of cultural boycott against Israel argue that it serves as a reminder to Israelis of their government’s mistreatment of Palestinians, and that it pressures Israel to reconsider policies that infringe on Palestinian rights, including the occupation.
Thank you @Lorde for cancelling your Tel Aviv show and heeding appeals from your fans against Israel's art-washing of its brutal oppression of Palestinians. Your unwavering commitment to progressive values inspires us and gives us hope.
— PACBI (@PACBI) December 24, 2017
Najwan Berekdar, an activist with BDS48, which encourages Palestinian citizens of Israel to join the movement, told MEE in the summer around the time of Radiohead concert that cultural boycott is meant as a “wake up” call to Israeli society.
“The boycott can come through economic pressure, or through cultural boycott, and some of the Israeli society will pay the price for that,” she said.
“Even though, of course, this price is nothing compared to the price the Palestinians pay on a daily basis even with their lives – not just with their houses and their rights.”
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