"Jonathan Ofir, an Israeli-born Jewish musician, conductor and writer based in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, is also a pro-Palestinian protester critical of Israel's bombardment of Gaza."
“'Israel claims Jews as its national asset, and it weaponises us, as Jews – both as bodies in the demographic battle vis-a-vis non-Jews and particularly Palestinians, and ideologically as born representatives of the Jewish state – [and] seeks to do that to Jews worldwide,' Ofir told Al Jazeera. 'That claim, in turn, makes [us] the human shields of the state, as it assaults Palestinians under its settler-colonialist agenda, be it through ongoing ethnic cleansing, through siege or through seasonal massacres.'"
~ Alasdair Soussi
"Holocaust survivor and activist Dr Gabor Maté urged the group to pull out of the show, saying: 'I respectfully urge the progressive and humane-minded artists Imagine Dragons to stand by their principles and support both Palestinians and courageous Israelis by not performing in this apartheid country.'
But the band ignored activists calling for a boycott and addressed the crowd warmly at their show.
Lead singer Dan Reynolds told the audience 'It’s not normal to have such a big crowd,' adding: 'Tel Aviv, we love you.'
The band's Jewish drummer Daniel Platzman was also on stage and joined his bandmates in performing at Reading and Leeds festival last weekend before jetting off to Tel Aviv.
Earlier this summer, Robbie Williams also defied boycott calls to perform at Yarkon park, telling a crowd of Israelis that he was 'grateful for the Jewish people" and paid tribute to his Jewish wife Ayda Field and their four children.'"
~ JC Reporter
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