I am deeply saddened by his decision. If "there are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act", then cancelling performances you agreed to before the acts were publicized and there were no "interpretations", can only be seen as a cowardly political act brought on by political coercion and the propaganda he labels "falsehoods". Since he is turning his back on Israel and the Jews, possibly the most persecuted people on this planet, can we assume that he has succumbed to Palestinian propaganda? I hear it's all the fashionable rage among his contemporaries!

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It is only in Israel that any political comments on his behalf would not be met with potential death threats and rioting and the "hysterical language of politics" so often found in the Islamic world. You would think that he might have respected this and voiced his performances as just that, a musical performance that has no political bearing.

Does he not realize there are countries in the Islamic world where his music would not be welcome, where his words would be censored? Should we now interpret his willingness to play in Islamic countries as being pro-Islamic? How can this decision to perform in Islamic countries, but not Israel, not be interpreted as a political act?

Early in his career, Mr. Costello, or the King of America, as he "vainly" likes to call himself, was labeled a misogynist. As the Islamic world harshly denies half its population even the most basic human rights and dignities, can we infer in his preference not to play in Israel, an agreement with the misogynistic horrors of Islam? We are talking about upwards of a half a billion women! Do those half a billion women mean less than three million Palestinians? Surely they suffer more by their sheer numbers, if not deplorable conditions?

In all of the Islamic world, there are maybe two countries that even make the list of "free" countries. And even these countries punish "subjective" immoral acts such as drinking alcohol, premarital sex or an adulterous affair with severe corporal punishment, incarceration and sometimes death, most usually aimed at women, and wholly in deference to religious dictates. But Elvis Costello says he is an atheist? When he plays in Turkey, does he play "Dust"?

Mr. Costello constantly speaks with contempt for conservative American leaders. During Bush's term he lambasted the president as a war monger every chance he got, and yet, he cozies up to Obama, who has only escalated the war in Afghanistan which has resulted in a skyrocketing of casualties on both sides and a further escalation of terrorist attacks and attempted attacks on Western nations. Perhaps, with Iran now having nuclear weapons, Mr. Costello feared that the annihilation of Israel, so often promised by the Muslim world, might take place? Or is Mr. Costello the "fashionable" kind, blowing in the wind to the dictates of what is cool? War is not good under Bush, but it's "cool" under Obama!

Mr. Costello has also spent much of his professional life backpedalling racist remarks he made of contemporaries by declaring that he was drunk at the time. Should we add to his many hatreds now, that of the Jewish people? Is not his refusal to comply with a promise, a sign of anti-semitism of the Jewish variety?

At the crossroads of his life, Elvis Costello is a confused, scared little coward who would betray his heritage in a heartbeat rather than honor a commitment? Given his track record in marriage, yes, perhaps this is the case? Perhaps he's not so much a coward as a betrayer! One thing for sure, in my book, he definitely knows how to be dumb.
 

What an ignorant dip!

Why do these show biz no-minds so consistently take the hard left viewpoint? Maybe those frames keep Elvis from seeing the tactics used by Hamas and other Palestinian gunslingin' cowards... using ambulances to transport troops while the wounded lie dying, setting up ammo dumps and rocket launchers in schoolyards and hospitals... hiding behind women and children... and lots more. They know knowing dingbat duprs like Elvis will blame any "civilian casualties" on Israel.

What an icehole.
Sleep comes like a drug in God's country 

I just heard that Elvis Costello cenacle his concert in Israel, this June.
What can we say on someone that does not have a clue about the conflict between us and the Muslim? That he is ignorant or narrow-minded person. We will not say it because, we know that being juts a 3rd to Elvis Parsley – the king, he decided not to be in one most bountiful places on this plant, for any visitor, and for a performer, even for an insignificant one like Elvis Costello. God bless the land of the Jewish = Israel.
 

Well that surely is not going to bring about com munication, love or peace. In fact it may well fuel more hatred and anger.
And hey Castello if your not politically motivated, are you also going to stand up for the young Israel soldier Gilad Shalit, who had just been enlisted and then thrown into a hole in the ground when captured , without the Red Cross being able to visit him in 3 years. Will you sing a song for Gilad Shalit? do you know about Gilad Shalit at all?  

It is funny that Mr. Costello takes side without even questioning himself if his action is to bring peace supporters to justify him or whether is action just motivates the terror.

As someone who was always a left wing person I ask myself if I want sallow people like Mr. Costello on our side.
Being a left wing person is hard enough knowing that the Palestinians do not want only the occupied territories but the whole country. (and declare it quite openly)
Now do I want people like Costello telling me that it's either looking for way to live with the Palestinians or hosting him, I can tell Costello to look into himself and if playing in the US means that he support and the US government actions automatically?

English is not my mother's tongue but, sadly, as Costello fan, I think the right word to describe his recent action is "Hypocrisy"
 

The world going in Israel that the tickets sale wasn't that good at all and that's the real reason for the cancellation.
This conflict exists for last 60 years, why to book there in first place? Suddenly mr. Costello discovered it? 

washed has been who has no difficulty in making a "very political" statement by choosing to boycott what would otherwise be a very apolitical concert. Congratulations on picking sides Mr. Costello.
Hope you enjoy your new found freedom in making vague political gestures in a futile attempt to remain on the public stage. 

So he basically had these two tour spots picked out, and he waited until a month before to cancel them? Wow, for once a singer cancelled a tour visit in Israel because of the Palestinians being victims, wasn't there a cancelled tour last year because of rocket attacks from Gaza? Clearly different reasoning than Costello.

On a superficial side note, why wouldn't he choose to perform in Canada on, oh I don't know, the 1st of July? That'd be a quick and easy sell. 

Come on, everybody - save the finger-work and just cut to your chase: Costello is a terrorist who hates women, democracy, freedom, and God. And probably fluffy kittens. 

Good on Elvis for having the courage to stand up to the most powerful media campaign of lies, slander and hatred that he must have surely known he will now get from the people who DARE to think they speak for Jews. Real Jews understand that the saying "Never again" applies to everyone. 

sir , i really respect you and i've always respected you thro your magnificent career , don't give them the honor of your presence , those child killers  

Kudos to Elvis Costello. Notwithstanding the ill-informed and/or Hasbara comments of previous posters, his courageous decision is in accordance with international humanitarian law and basic morality. I salute you Elvis and I am conficent that your decision will encourage other artists to also boycott Israel, a well documented expansionist, occupier, racist, ethnic-cleanser state.  

For a thoughtful description of the problem from a Jewish perspective, see http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jun/10/failure-american-je...
 

Thanks to Elvis for taking a courageous stand. Considering the vitriolic comments thrown at him by some of the people here, it takes real humanity for a performer of his stature to risk speaking out in any way against the policies of the Israeli state.  

Israel is an apartheid state. Prevailing opinion of Israel's legitimacy to continue war crimes and genocide is a manufactured political and media whitewash on uneducated westerners. That is changing.

Maybe you are of the view that celebrities affecting politics should be dismissed because it is not their genre. Too bad. People are free to express themselves in some parts of this world any way they like and if you have a problem with that, then YOU have the problem. It takes guts to use your power to expose truth, fight the tide and wake up. That applies to everyone. Bravo EC.  

Mazeltov Mr. Costello, for standing with the oppressed! 

Seeing all the negative ratings on people's comments, especially those that have even the slightest sympathy with Israel, really does show the readership's ignorance.

The hard loves to act like Israel is an ultra-fascist country, when in reality its only the ultra-orthodox Jews that could be considered fascist. The moderates, the Druze and Muslims in Israel are more center-right and center-left, as it turns out, they are also the majority. Celebs and the morally blind cry war crime and atrocity when Israel tries to protect its citizens.

I'm sorry, but did nobody call out Russia when they flattened Chechnya's capital? Clearly a few thousand Palestinians dying is far more serious because Israel's majority religion is Judaism, while the Russians slaughtered hundreds of thousands of civilians in Chechnya. Chechnya is largely Muslim, and they committed terrorist attacks decades ago and even this year.

If you're going to just single out one conflict, and turn a blind eye to every other conflict that's many times worse, do the world a favour and hang yourself. 

To quote Ronnie Kasrils, minister for intelligence in the South African government and devout Jew: “The Palestinian minority in Israel has for decades been denied basic equality in health, education, housing and land possession, solely because it is not Jewish. The fact that this minority is allowed to vote hardly redresses the rampant injustice in all other basic human rights. They are excluded from the very definition of the 'Jewish state', and have virtually no influence on the laws, or political, social and economic policies. Hence, their similarity to the black South Africans [under apartheid].” (The Guardian, 25 May 2005)

What's needed is a collective engagement by common front made up musicians and composers and artists, moved by an anthem to rally all against the Israel's apartheid regime - something along the line of the 1980s anti-apartheid hit "Ain't Gonna Play Sun City."
 

I'm honestly surprised at the uniform ignorance of the anti-Costello commentators. Their remarks indicate an unfamiliarity with the history of the Jews, of the Zionist Movement, of the Arabs of Palestine, and of international law. And they exude not even a hint of humanity. But they aren't hopeless, because it's possible for them to learn. I hope they do. 

Thank God for people of conscience like Elvis Costello, and for all those 'left wing' Jews who also are people of conscience. The continuing land theft, ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of innocents, kidnapping, torture and random shooting of pregnant women by IDF snipers must end. And those who fight with stones and rifles to defend their thousand year homes and people against the helicopters, F-16 fighters, white phosphorus and nuclear weapons that support these atrocities are NOT terrorists. The Western World is beginning, at last, to awaken to its own hypocrisy despite Zionist-fascist control of the media. 

@E. Atkin
Let's get some things straight with your 'opinion'

"Israel is an apartheid state."

Well, no. Apartheid is a term that was created solely for the pre-1991 South Africa. Israel does not actually fit the definition of an apartheid state, the majority of the country along religious and ethnic lines are Jewish. Thus the minority is Muslim, which confounds the apartheid definition of a minority ethnicity ruling over a majority ethnicity. In other words, few white people above many black people is an apartheid. Many Jews or Christians, over few Muslims, is basically Europe.

"Prevailing opinion of Israel's legitimacy to continue war crimes and genocide is a manufactured political and media whitewash on uneducated westerners. That is changing."

The educated westerners recognize that in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there are NO innocents. Yes, Israel may be guilty of war crimes but the Palestinian Authority is guilty of many war crimes at the same time. Of course, most media only highlight the Israelis as being guilty, having forgotten the First and Second Intifada's.

"Maybe you are of the view that celebrities affecting politics should be dismissed because it is not their genre. Too bad. People are free to express themselves in some parts of this world any way they like and if you have a problem with that, then YOU have the problem. It takes guts to use your power to expose truth, fight the tide and wake up. That applies to everyone. Bravo EC."

Many Druze support Israel, both in the country and from Lebanon. When the Jewish state was first created, with a tide of Islamic forces sweeping in to destroy, who woke up? The Druze, they volunteered for armed service recognizing that making friends with the new neighbours is better than wiping them out. Turns out it takes guts to stand up and fight for the right reasons, and when the Druze stood up everyone else strangely fell. Strange. 

So glad to see Elvis Costello do the right thing, unlike folks like Margaret Atwood who chose to defy the cultural boycott and go to Israel despite the apartheid. 

Yes, let's talk apartied. The women of the Middle East know it well, ... a half a billion of them, ... but who cares about the crimes of Islam against their own or others? Who cares about the treatment of women in Islam? Apparently not Elvis. His decision is bigoted and selective.  

Rucka Ali
Your posting is replete with mis/disinformation. I have neither the time nor the inclination to respond to all of your nonsense. Suffice to note that your attempt to argue that Israel is not an apartheid state is a miserable failure. To be brief, apartheid refers to a political system in which certain citizens are forced to live "apart" - discrimination, segregation, i.e., racism. Setting aside the well documented daily horrors, including apartheid, experienced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem (including its illegally extended boundaries) and the occupied Gaza Strip (converted to the world's largest outdor prison by Israel and hence, still occupied under international law) Palestinians inside Israel also suffer under an apartheid regime:

The U.S. State Department's report on International Religious Freedom: "Arabs in Israel...are subject to various forms of discrimination [and the government] does not provide Israeli Arabs...with the same quality of education, housing, employment opportunities as Jews."

Ilan Pappe, renowned Israeli professor of political science: “[Israel's] political system [is] exclusionary, a pro forma democracy - going through the motions of democratic rule but essentially being akin to apartheid or Herenvolk ('master race') democracy.”

Adi Ophir, philosophy professor at Tel Aviv University: “...the adoption of the political forms of an ethnocentric and racist nation-state in general, are turning Israel into the most dangerous place in the world for the humanity and morality of the Jewish community, for the continuity of Jewish cultures and perhaps for Jewish existence itself."

One of countless examples of racism suffered by Israel's Arab citizens: Ha'aretz, Dec. 14/09: "Jewish town won't let Arab build home on his own land "
Excerpt: "Aadel Suad first came to the planning and construction committee of the Misgav Local Council in 1997. Suad, an educator, was seeking a construction permit to build a home on a plot of land he owns in the community of Mitzpeh Kamon. The reply he got, from a senior official on the committee, was a memorable one. 'Don't waste your time,' he reportedly told Suad. 'We'll keep you waiting for 30 years.' "

Perhaps nothing confirms the racist/apartheid nature of Israel more that the fact that it is the only country in the world that differentiates between citizenship and nationality. There is no such thing as an "Israeli," only Jewish and non-Jewish citizens, i.e., Arab, Druze etc., as indicated on their identity cards.


 

Israel is drifting towards fascism -- and I mean that sincerely. The truth that Palestinians are victims of more than six decades of ethnic cleansing is finally becoming common knowledge. It is now just a matter of time before Israel will have to abandon its crash-collision course and choose: two states -- or one? Fortress Israel is no longer an option. THANK YOU, Elvis Costello for joining the movement: BOYCOTT, DIVEST, & SANCTION for justice and peace in the Middle East. Naomi Klein explains why: http://tinyurl.com/7jkhe3 

Thank you for standing in solidarity with those who have no voice. 

We need more people like Elvis Costello to make the whole world realize that Israel is an apartheid state originally created by killing thousands of Palestinians and stealing their homeland. This man is not a Palestinian but he knows what Israel has done and continues to be doing to the Palestinians for fifty three years.

Today, many people around the world, like Costello, understand and support also the Palestinian cause in many forms. Elvis chose to boycott Israel and send a message to the world that he can not ignore the suffering and humiliation of innocent Palestinians. At the same time, he renounces violence in the name of liberation. Unlike many who consider the resistance against aggression is a legitimate right. That is why many Palestinians fight back to restore their stolen land and defend themselves and families from the aggression and humiliation of the Israeli soldiers and their government. We should not forget that there are thousands of Palestinians who wants to live in peace side by side with the Jews, like my grandparents who lived peacefully together for years in the past on the land of Palestine.

If we can restore the past and stop the suffering and killing of young men and women from both sides, Elvis Costello and many others will come to Palestine and entertain all of us with their music.
 

Congratulations to Elvis Costello for taking such a principled stand!  

Though Mr. Costello's explanation of his decision is a little tepid, I applaud his willingness to stand up and be counted. Yes, where are the 'Ain't Gonna Play Sun City' performers for the incredible inhumanity being visited upon the people of Palestine. Those that rule Israel are primarily to blame for the state of things, but the financier of the horrors, the United States, and cheerleaders like Stephen Harper too bear a burden of guilt in the continuance of the illegal occupation, blockade, and theft of the land and resources of Palestine.

End the Blockade, End the Oppression. 

The anti-Costello comments here are so patently immature, inarticulate, and unthoughtful that one almost pities these pro-Israel (de facto pro apartheid) voices, in their desperation and self-deception.

Costello is certainly to be commended for joining the vanguard of mainstream performing artists (such as Brian Eno and Roger Waters) who are leading the way in joining the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel. More credit still, however, goes to the BDS activists who have successfully reached out to principled musicians such as Costello and Gil Scott-Heron regarding the reality of Israel's ongoing colonization and de-humanization of the indigenous people of Palestine.

Kudos to Elvis Costello and kudos to BDS activists. The tide is turning.

 

Israel's treatment of Palestinians fits the definition of apartheid as set out by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (don't take my word for it, read it for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_of_apartheid).

Elvis Costello deserves praise and support for taking a principled stand and canceling his concert dates there. As one Israeli fan commented on his FB page: although sorry to miss your concert Mr. Costello, you have made the moral choice by staying away.

Many more will follow his example as apartheid Israel grows more and more isolated internationally. 

I am repulsed but not surprized by the false lowness of the zionist attacks on Mr.Costello. But they do show only too clearly the ugly degenerative effects of zionisms ersatz fascism. And they serve to illustrate not merely the rightness of Mr.Costellos act but how desperately it is needed, for these are the voices of zionism and we can see it is surely every bit as evil as any other ism which applauded the incineration of human beings.
I commend Mr. Costellos action, I regard it as ethical and am grate ful to him for his courage. He has acted as I was taught a righteous Jew should, with humanity.
Mr.Costello, you're a mensch! G-d bless you!  

Good on you Mr Costello!!

Boycott!!
Divest!!
Sanction!!

I wonder whether the people of the world will do the same with the USA one day?

 

Bravo Elvis Costello for having the guts to refuse to entertain in a state that continues to violate basic human rights. Would that western governments including Canada's had the decency to take a similar stand. 

@Gary
First of all, I never really liked the name Gary, but just like in the Pokemon games back in the day I will defeat you :D

P.I

"Your posting is replete with mis/disinformation. I have neither the time nor the inclination to respond to all of your nonsense"

I'm speaking the truth, have you ever met a 60-year-old Israeli-Druze? (Originally from Lebanon) Yeah, obviously you haven't. Also you claim not to have the time, yet you responded to me with a six paragraph response. I guarantee you that you're going to have the time to check back on this article, thanks for giving me a rent-free room in your head.

"To be brief, apartheid refers to a political system in which certain citizens are forced to live "apart" - discrimination, segregation, i.e., racism. Setting aside the well documented daily horrors, including apartheid, experienced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem (including its illegally extended boundaries) and the occupied Gaza Strip (converted to the world's largest outdor prison by Israel and hence, still occupied under international law) Palestinians inside Israel also suffer under an apartheid regime"

Forced to live apart? Is that why Little Italy is so far from Little Odessa in New York City? These ethnic groups have to be isolated within city blocks like ghettos? I'm sorry, go look at Jerusalem, the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Arab Quarters were there for quite a while. Stop throwing around apartheid, it doesn't fit. Prisons are controlled, and thus rockets are not typically fired out of prisons if you haven't noticed. Gaza is walled off to hinder the growth of an organization being led by 'an evil God'. Quote taken from: Mosab Hassan Yousef, Israel's "Green Prince"

If what you say is true, then the same can be applied to Russia's control of Chechnya, China's control of Tibet, and India's control of the Kashmir region. Ah but its all different and unimportant compared to the Jews.

"The U.S. State Department's report on International Religious Freedom: "Arabs in Israel...are subject to various forms of discrimination [and the government] does not provide Israeli Arabs...with the same quality of education, housing, employment opportunities as Jews."

Oh I see, so its like the situation for Mexican immigrants in the United States. Of which little support has been done. Cool, didn't see that coming.

"Ilan Pappe, renowned Israeli professor of political science: “[Israel's] political system [is] exclusionary, a pro forma democracy - going through the motions of democratic rule but essentially being akin to apartheid or Herenvolk ('master race') democracy.”

Exclusionary he says, I find that strange when the Druze have more elected officials proportionate to their population than any other minority in Israel. That sounds pretty accepting and obviously racist to support secularism and moderate religion.
 

@Gary, P.II


"Adi Ophir, philosophy professor at Tel Aviv University: “...the adoption of the political forms of an ethnocentric and racist nation-state in general, are turning Israel into the most dangerous place in the world for the humanity and morality of the Jewish community, for the continuity of Jewish cultures and perhaps for Jewish existence itself."

During the Cold War the United States was running almost along those same lines, same as in World War II. Ethnocentrism and racism, why do you think a lot of Brauns and Schmidts in the US suddenly became Browns and Smiths? Everyone has an opinion, be it true or not is for others to decide. If you take one person's word for it then yes, there is a God, and all non-Christians are going straight to Hell. Funny how that works out.

"One of countless examples of racism suffered by Israel's Arab citizens: Ha'aretz, Dec. 14/09: "Jewish town won't let Arab build home on his own land "
Excerpt: "Aadel Suad first came to the planning and construction committee of the Misgav Local Council in 1997. Suad, an educator, was seeking a construction permit to build a home on a plot of land he owns in the community of Mitzpeh Kamon. The reply he got, from a senior official on the committee, was a memorable one. 'Don't waste your time,' he reportedly told Suad. 'We'll keep you waiting for 30 years.' "
Oh yeah I saw that, I also saw this to which the blind man may not have noticed: Ha'aretz on 09.04.08 "Two Israeli civilians killed by Gazan infiltrators"
"Two Israeli civilians are shot to death by Palestinian infiltrators from the Gaza Strip." Look at that, basically racism and a war crime to blow away civilians. This is not a way to peace, you have to end raining mortars and rockets to end marching of boots and screeching of jets.
Also I can't help but notice that the journalist writes "reportedly" instead of "stated" thus adding an element of uncertainty. Check your source's language.

"Perhaps nothing confirms the racist/apartheid nature of Israel more that the fact that it is the only country in the world that differentiates between citizenship and nationality. There is no such thing as an "Israeli," only Jewish and non-Jewish citizens, i.e., Arab, Druze etc., as indicated on their identity cards."

You must not realize, that Druze community leaders actually requested to be distinguished from Jews and Arabs. Yeah, you clearly didn't know that. Haven't you noticed that when the news says someone has done something wrong that they indicate race? Middle East is a trickier thing, it isn't obvious so distinguishing ethnicity aids in the logistics of justice. 

May 18, 2010

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) warmly welcomes Elvis Costello's cancellation of his scheduled performances in Israel. Costello's decision is a great victory for the ethical responsibilities of international cultural figures, a key factor in the cultural boycott of Israel. It comes after similar cancellations by Gil Scott-Heron, Carlos Santana and Bono/U2 upon appeals by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and its international partners, particularly in the UK and US.

Referring to Israeli imposed "conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security," Costello's decision not to be complicit in whitewashing these Israeli policies is exceptionally brave and principled. It is deeply appreciated by the Palestinian people and people of conscience everywhere.

US- and UK-based solidarity groups upholding Palestinian rights had urged Costello to cancel his Israel performances in order not to contribute to legitimizing Israel's occupation and apartheid against the Palestinians.

It is worth noting that, in the last few years, many internationally renowned cultural figures have come out in support of the cultural boycott of Israel. Such a boycott against complicit Israeli institutions is seen as an effective and necessary measure to end its impunity and promote its accountability under international law. A similar cultural boycott against apartheid South Africa is widely credited for isolating it and significantly contributing to the eventual collapse of the racist system there.
 

some artists were principled enough to take the heat when they boycotted South Africa in the height of the apartheid era. These actions served to help the world focus on the reality of apartheid and eventually a world wide boycott. Israel as a nation defies UN resolutions to leave illegally occupied territories and to cease the seizure of Palestinian properties and the deportation of Palestinians who are Israeli citizens. Costello is in the line of these artists who dares to call attention to the atrocities committed by the State of Israel, creating a new "apartheid" regime that only provokes more violence. It takes time to raise the consciousness of a comfortable north-american but artists have a role in making others see through different eyes. 

I agree that it's a brave action that Costello has taken. It shines the light on the human rights atrocities the state of Israel has and continues to commit.
Some who disagree have brought up other human rights issues that they feel are being neglected. This speaks to their lack of awareness of the countless organizations and famous people who indeed have taken up many causes, and to some media that have aired them. To name a few: Mia Farrow (Darfur), The Yes Men (Bhopal, Katrina, and much more), Susan Sarandon, Tariq Ali, Arundhati Roy, Martin Sheen, the list goes on. So, whatever your particular cause, there is likely a lot of action around it, some of which may be quiet action, like trying to get legislation passed, working with companies to get a shareholders' resolution passed or pestering media to cover something. It's all happening.
Elvis Costello's conscience was pricked. Better late than never. 

I knew I enjoyed Elvis Costello for more than just his music. The decision he made this day will transcend even his great talent! Kudos for you Mr. Costello, stand for what is right! 

Rucka Ali
To describe your response as feeble would be an understatement, i.e., classic Hasbara - avoid, evade and misrepresent the issues.

To be brief: Apropos the Druze. In fact, many Druze joined with their fellow Palestinian Muslims and Christians and fought bravely against the Irgun, Sternists and Haganah in 1948. Following Israel's victory, in accordance with their custom of of taqiyah (caution), which allows them to appear to accept the mores of the dominant group in which they find themselves, the Druze did choose to bow to the "Jewish State."

Your reference to the word "reportedly" in the news item documenting a specific incident of apartheid in Israel is a red herring, a smoke screen that in no way refutes what happened to Mr. Suad. Reporters regularly use the word. You provide no evidence whatsoever that the statement of the "senior official" as quoted by Ha'aretz is inaccurate.

The rest of your posting is pure bafflegab raising issues that have no bearing on what I wrote. Face reality: A new era is dawning. The world now knows the truth: Israel is the occupier, Palestinians are the occupied; Israel is the ethnic-cleanser, Palestinians are the dispossessed; Israel is the oppressor, Palestinians are the oppressed; Israel is in violation of hard-won international humanitarian law (much of which came about as a result of the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis, including the slaughter of 6 million Jews) on a daily basis at an accelerating rate, Palestinians have international law on their side. 

Equating criticism of the policies and actions of Israel's current hard line government with anti-Semitism has become a frightening new development in the on-going debate about how to achieve peace in the Middle East. I am a Jew and I oppose current Israeli policy. To smear Costello with the label of anti-Semitism is wrong, vicious and makes rational debate on the real issues impossible. And perhaps that's the real motive. 

Yay Elvis Costello. The bizarre ethnic cleansing going on in Israel is endearing them to no one but them selves. They have become a horrific murderous culture that will no longer get any sympathy from me until they once again learn to be compassionate humans, not ruthless child killers they have become. Two of my best friends are Jewish, they are also horrified by Israel.. 

I encourage all Israel lovers to boycott Elvis Costello. Let him pay for his own mistatkes. I doubt Arabs go to his concerts. 

@Bill, did your PACBI talking points tell you to say that? Because I haven't read more than one borderline likening of Antisemitism with criticism of Israel in this thread of talkbacks...so your point is largely moot, and only goes to show that propaganda is a two-way street.

One thing I will mention is that there is an acknowledgement among the pro-Israel community of Palestinian suffering and a regret of that (by the mainstream pro-Israel community...the fascists can go to hell), and the desire to live in peace and share the holy land.

I never see any compassion from the Anti-Israel movement towards the thousands upon thousands of innocent Israelis killed or wounded by hateful Palestinians who have no desire to live in peace until the Jews are either overwhelmed or driven out. There is never any acknowledgement of Palestinian wrong-doings and believe me, until there is, there will be no peace or justice in the region-- because it's a pathetic attempt to smear one side while promoting the virtue (without the negatives) of the other side. It's not a true picture of the conflict or situation over there.

True peace activists will acknowledge TRUTH-- where both sides have been justified in their actions and where both sides have done horrible things. There is not enough of that taking place right now in this vendetta-filled attack on Israel by some and this blanket-apologizing for Israel on the other. 

Thank you. Simply. Conscience does make its demands. May all of us answer ours so clearly. As to the venom which has come in reply, this is often the price for encouraging "the better angels of our nature." 

Rog

As the documented historical record clearly attests, any crimes that the occupied, dispossessed and oppressed Palestinians have committed against Israelis pale when compared to those committed against Palestinians by Jewish militia prior to 15 May 1948 and those of the IDF since.

I know of no other instance where a people suffering under an illegal/belligerent and brutal occupation have been forced to negotiate with their occupier. Kuwait was not expected to bargain with Iraq for its freedom in 1991 and France was not expected to negotiate with Germany during WWII

Anyone who seriously pursues this subject knows full well that the Palestinians are the victims and Israel is the victimizer. Thankfully, time, the thrust of history, the new emerging geopolitical reality and demographics are with the Palestinians. They will be free!! THEIR STRUGGLE IS OUR STRUGGLE!!  

To all deniers of Israel being an apartheid state I direct you to some great Jews, like Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodman, Naomi Klein and many others...... NEVER AGAIN TO ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!
If I'm not mistaken, I believe Einstein also had something to say about the methodologies of the State Of Israel. 

You mean there are actually people who would go to an Elvis Costello concert? The temptation to run him over when he is cycling around Qualicum Beach is overwhelming at times.  

Good on you Mr. Costello....Israel is so very.... OVER....no one with an education buys their B.S. anymore...read Chomsky