Music
12 Jul 17

Thom Yorke defends Radiohead's decision to play in Israel

He's responding to robust criticisms made by Ken Loach.

Thom Yorke has reacted to an op-ed piece in the English Independent by filmmaker Ken Loach in which he states: "Radiohead need to join the cultural boycott of Israel – why won’t they meet with me to discuss it? Their stubborn refusal to engage with the many critics of their ill-advised concert in Tel Aviv suggests to me that they only want to hear one side – the one that supports apartheid.
"Whether in apartheid South Africa in the past or apartheid Israel in the present, when an oppressed community asks renowned international artists not to lend their names to their oppressors’ attempts to whitewash their human rights violations, it is our moral obligation to heed their appeals," Loach continues. "It should be about them and their human rights, not about us and our sense of pride."
In a social media rebuke, Yorke counters: "Playing in a country isn't the same as endorsing its government. We don't endorse Netanyahu any more than Trump." You can read his full statement below.
Joining the debate, former Faithless man Dave Randall says in The Guardian that "this Tel Aviv gig will help the Israeli government’s ‘business as usual’ propaganda effort and alienate thousands of fans worldwide by ignoring the pleas of Palestinians.”
Their July 19 visit to Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon will be Radiohead's fourth Israeli gig, and first since 2000. They made their bow there in 1993 after 'Creep' was played off the air by Israeli army radio.
Their refusal to cancel is being hailed as a victory by websites like Israellycool.com, which are vociferously anti-boycott.
"Fresh from cursing and flipping the bird at BDS-hole concertgoers, Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke has responded to yet another BDS call, this time from creepy director Ken Loach," they proffer. "No surprise that a moral degenerate like Loach would support BDS."