Controversy over Roger Waters’ support for an anti-Israel movement has led to German television executives pulling the plug on plans to televise the former Pink Floyd frontman’s rock concerts, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
As of now, five TV and radio stations in the country have opted out of airing Mr. Waters concerts next summer, THR reported Tuesday evening, a development following Mr. Waters’ outspoken participation in the so-called BDS movement, named for its three-pronged agenda for isolating Israel on the world stage.
The BDS movement on individuals, corporations, academic institutions, non-profit groups and governmental bodies to boycott travel to Israel and divest from Israeli economic ventures. BDS also calls for a regime of international sanctions on the 69-year-old Jewish state.
Critics have long decried the BDS push as thinly-veiled anti-Semitism worthy of repudiation.
“Taking a clear position here is an important signal for RBB to the Jewish communities in Berlin and Brandenburg,” said Patricia Schlesinger, an RBB television executive, THR reported.
In turn, RBB’s move was hailed as “an important signal that rampant antisemitism against Israel has no place in Germany,” by the president of a group called the Central Council of Jews in Germany, THR reported.
The decision to pull Waters’ concert comes a day after news that the rock musician is planning to perform in a televised concert to be played on Dec. 22 in Manger Square in Bethlehem in the West Bank.
The Jerusalem Post reported Monday that Mr. Waters made the announcement, complaining that Israeli officials had made it impossible for him to get to the West Bank to perform in person.
“After weeks of silence from the Israeli authorities who control the border into Palestine, I have to sadly accept the reality that I’m banging my head against the brick wall of the occupation,” Mr. Waters said Sunday, reported the Jerusalem Post.
According to the Jerusalem Post, however, both Bethlehem city officials and Israeli government officials deny having been contacted by Mr. Waters over the necessary arrangements to make an appearance.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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