Jonny Greenwood, band member of Radiohead, voices his thoughts on the cancellation of shows featuring Israeli musician Dudu Tassa.

Original Rewrite:

Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa's June Concerts Cancelled due to Threats

Musician duo Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead) and Israel-born Dudu Tassa were set to perform in the UK this June, but the concerts at Bristol Beacon's Lantern Hall and London's Hackney Church have been axed following credible threats.

In a joint statement, Greenwood and Tassa stated, "Venues and their staff have received sufficient alarming threats to conclude that it's not safe to proceed."

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a member of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, welcomed the cancellation, claiming the performances would have "whitewashed" the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

However, Greenwood and Tassa countered this assertion: "Forcing musicians to cancel and denying audiences the chance to hear them is a form of censorship and a means of silencing. Intimidating venues into pulling our shows won't contribute to peace, justice, or understanding in the Middle East, as intended by the BDS movement."

Greenwood and Tassa believe that artistic collaborations, especially those that bring together Middle Eastern musicians, should be encouraged, not condemned, and that artists should have the freedom to express themselves regardless of their citizenship or religious beliefs.

Their statement further referenced a statement signed by over 100 artists regarding Belfast rap trio Kneecap. The UK government has been attempting to pressure music festivals to remove Kneecap from their lineups this summer due to controversial concert footage showing them advocating for the death of Conservative MPs and supporting extremist groups.

Greenwood and Tassa stated, "We have no judgment to pass on Kneecap, but we find it regrettable that those advocating for their freedom of expression are the same ones seeking to restrict ours."

Greenwood and Tassa have collaborated for years, and their 2023 album titled 'Jarak Qaribak' marked their first collaboration.

The statement concluded, "We believe that art transcends politics. Debating the importance of art in comparison to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel is unwarranted and serves no purpose. Silencing Israeli artists merely because they are born in Israel, as per the BDS movement's stance, seems counterproductive and does not aid in fostering understanding between the two sides of this seemingly endless conflict."

Greenwood himself faced opposition from pro-Palestinian groups last year during a performance with Tassa in Tel Aviv amid the ongoing war in Gaza. At the time, Greenwood explained, "I've been creating music with Dudu since 2008, and I find artistic collaborations between Arab and Jewish musicians to be worthwhile. And an effort to remind everyone of the ancient Jewish cultural roots in countries such as Iraq and Yemen is crucial."

Greenwood reiterated, "Any art is merely a slight contribution to stopping all the violence and suffering around us. Doing nothing is a worse option. Silencing Israeli artists for being born in Israel, as per the BDS movement's stance, does not seem like a way to achieve peace. Instead, it seems more like a means of sowing further discord."

In conclusion, Greenwood and Tassa intend to continue their artistic collaboration and reach out to their audience with the hope that their appreciation for music can bring people together, regardless of political differences.

Places:

United Kingdom
Israel

Subjects:

Music
Controversy

Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement
Artistic Freedom
Cultural Boycott
Middle Eastern Conflict
Israel-Palestine Dispute
Censorship
Music Collaboration
Palestinian Rights
Muslim Extremism
Free Speech

Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa, originally scheduled to perform concerts in the United Kingdom this June, have had their shows cancelled due to threats.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) welcomed the cancellation, claiming the performances would have whitewashed the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In a joint statement, Greenwood and Tassa countered this assertion, stating that forcing musicians to cancel and denying audiences the chance to hear them is a form of censorship and a means of silencing.
Greenwood and Tassa believe that artistic collaborations, especially those that bring together Middle Eastern musicians, should be encouraged, not condemned, and that artists should have the freedom to express themselves regardless of their citizenship or religious beliefs.