Board of Deputies regrets singer Lorde’s ‘wrong call’ on cancelling Tel Aviv concert

Richard Verber, Senior Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the national representative body of the UK Jewish community, said:

“This is the wrong call by Lorde which reeks of severe double standards. While, during this tour, she will still play Russia, despite notorious and flagrant abuses in that country’s domestic and international human rights record, she will boycott the world’s only Jewish state, which strenuously seeks to protect human rights even while defending its citizens from a decades-long onslaught of terrorism.

“Rather than using her music to bring together Israelis and Palestinians, Lorde has caved in to the bullying of a loud lobby backed by some of the world’s worst human rights abusers. She should reflect on this and reverse her decision in due course. When she does she will receive a warm welcome and no doubt understand the situation a lot better.”