ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Israel's ambassador asks Lorde for meeting

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Wed, 27 Dec 2017, 8:57AM
Israel's ambassador to New Zealand says "music should united, not divide". (Photo \ Getty Images)
Israel's ambassador to New Zealand says "music should united, not divide". (Photo \ Getty Images)

Israel's ambassador asks Lorde for meeting

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Wed, 27 Dec 2017, 8:57AM

Israel's ambassador to New Zealand has invited Lorde to meet him after the Kiwi singer cancelled her concert in Tel Aviv.

On Christmas Day Lorde cancelled a concert scheduled for Israel in June after criticism from activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Her decision also came after an open letter written by two New Zealand fans on website the Spinoff argued the concert would show support for Israel's occupation of Palestine.

READ MORE: Activist faces death threats after urging Lorde boycott of Israel

Israeli ambassador to New Zealand Itzhak Gerberg on Tuesday night (NZT) extended an invitation to the 21-year-old musician.

"By succumbing to the hateful agenda of the few who support BDS you encourage animosity in the region," he said on Twitter, asking her to meet him in person to discuss the issue.

"Music should unite not divide."

The Jewish Council of New Zealand earlier said that, in succumbing to pressure to call off the concert, Lorde had made a political statement.

Spokeswoman Juliet Moses said the singer would perform in Russia on her Melodrama tour and that despite that country's human rights abuses no one called on her to cancel that show.

READ MORE: Lorde faces calls of double standards over Israel decision

"Likewise, she is not accused of complicity with Trump and his policies when she performs in the United States."

The Zionist Federation of New Zealand also said it was disappointed Lorde had caved into pressure from "those who wish to see the destruction of Israel".

"By singling out Israel amongst other nations whose human rights abuses make any that Israel supposedly commit seem a drop in the ocean, shows the double standards and discrimination towards the Jewish state of those in the BDS movement," the organisation said in a statement.

Variety reported Israeli culture minister Miri Regev wrote: "Lorde, I'm hoping you can be a 'pure heroine,' like the title of your first album, be a heroine of pure culture, free from any foreign - and ridiculous - political considerations."

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you