Protests Against Radiohead’s Tour Due to Past Concert in Israel

A movement associated with pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel sentiments is calling for a boycott of Radiohead’s upcoming tours. This demand stems from the band’s performance in Tel Aviv back in 2017, where they did not issue an “apology,” as some groups have requested.

This concert occurred well before the escalation of conflict that began with the Hamas attacks in 2023. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement advocates repercussions for artists who acknowledge Israel’s right to exist by performing in the country.

According to reports from YnetNews.com, the British rock band recently announced its tour schedule for November and December, planning to perform in cities like Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin.

Following this announcement, BDS released a statement via Pacbi, a Palestinian campaign promoting cultural and academic boycotts of Israel. The statement condemned Radiohead, saying, “Even as Israeli genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza reaches a brutal stage of deliberate starvation, Radiohead continues its silence and complicity.” It also singled out guitarist Johnny Greenwood for crossing the picket line, implying a connection between him and entertainers who support the Israeli military.

Interestingly, the recent attack on a music festival by Palestinian terrorists, which resulted in numerous innocent deaths, was not mentioned during the BDS press conference.

Although Greenwood has openly rejected the idea of boycotting Israeli performers and audiences, the pressure from BDS continues. Support for anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiments appears to be growing in certain parts of Europe.

In a statement last year, he remarked, “[S]Born in Israel in Israel does not seem like a way to deepen our understanding of both sides of this clearly endless conflict.”