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Bono slammed for U2's decision to play in Israel

By
PATRICK ROBERTS,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, February 8, 2010, 7:10 AM
Updated Monday, February 8, 2010, 9:38 AM

 

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U2 frontman Bono
U2 frontman Bono

Rock star and activist Bono and his band U2 face a boycott and action from pro-Palestinian groups after agreeing to play in Israel this summer.

The influential Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has urged Bono to 'say no to Israel,' pointing out he has turned down a similar invitation two years ago.

"Performing in Israel would violate the almost unanimously endorsed Palestinian civil society Call for Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. This Call is directed particularly towards international activists, artists, and academics of conscience, such as yourself. Moreover, it would come a year and a half after Israel’s bloody military assault against the occupied Gaza Strip which left over 1,440 Palestinians dead, of whom 431 were children, and 5380 injured, " the letter stated.
 
The letter also called on Bono to live by what he recently wrote in The New York Times. "In a recent New York Times op-ed, you wrote of your hope ‘that the regimes in North Korea, Myanmar and elsewhere are taking note of the trouble an aroused citizenry can give to tyrants.’

“You went on to further elaborate on the hope that “people in places filled with rage and despair, places like the Palestinian territories, will in the days ahead find among them their Gandhi, their King, their Aung San Suu Kyi.” Rather than shifting the blame from the violence of the colonial oppressor to the resistance of the indigenous oppressed and characterizing the Palestinians as a population filled with “rage and despair,” it is more apt to consider them among the “aroused citizenry” responding to tyranny – Israel‘s regime of occupation and apartheid."

The letter goes on to praise Bono's activism in other conflict resolution areas: "A whole generation was affected by your musical activism, when you sang of the civil rights movement in America, the everyday human heroes in El Salvador and the brave struggles in Ireland – you filled a space that forced political morality into pop culture. Entertaining apartheid Israel despite all the injustice it is committing against the Palestinians would significantly smear this great legacy of yours.

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Posted by beardiethor on Dec 23, 2010, 05:22 AM EST
I had a feeling that someone as wise as Bono, like Paul McCartney could easily see through the endless cycle caused by the Palestinian Propaganda war machine & do the right thing. In addition, the whole propaganda group is rather dubious at best. How in heaven's name can you boycott something you've never patronized (and never will). Let's call if for what it is. While Israel continues to build an impressive place in the arts, science and medicine (is said to be very close to an AIDS cure for instance); the thugs from Palestine continue to use any and every penny they get to blow their intestines onto the ceiling of Israeli weddings, etc. How can they expect anyone with any cultural wherewithal to go along with their scam. Have you noticed that the artists who have joined have either are A. Way past being has beens, I was surprised some of them were even still living, or B. Who in the world has heard of them, and if so supported their art? A salute to Bono, and so many other musical and artistic greats who continue to support Israel; and, like me would LOVE to see a two party peaceful solution. And no, I am not one of those "Israel is always right" persons, in fact have been publicly critical of a number of its policies. But for a terrorist group to tell a country it has no right to exist; well, has it worked yet? Both Jordan and Egypt quit bombing Israel over 4 decades ago and guess what...they've not been bombed by Israel since. Don't you think Gaza might take a clue as to how the world works? It doesn't take a genius to figure it all out. A little common sense is all that is needed.
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Posted by ralphsrant1 on Aug 17, 2010, 10:39 PM EDT
Thank you Bono for not joining the list of Anti Semitic Irish musicians boycotting Israel. Anti Zionism is Antisemitism
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 10, 2010, 02:34 PM EST
As for your thoughts about the Jewish faith, kickstar...I really don't care. Those are your views -- and they change nothing.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 10, 2010, 02:28 PM EST
It's free and open space to post as many responses as I please, kickstar -- just as it is for you. There's a lot to say about this matter, which is why I've done so...I say what I feel is important. If you don't like it, don't read it. Pretty easy stuff. As for you thinking I'm Jewish (interesting you believe G-d is telling you that), I'm flattered and only take that as a compliment, even though it's not so (I do have Jewish family, though). I spell G-d that way -- with a letter missing -- for the same reason that Orthodox Jews do: The name is to remain so revered that even writing it out entirely should not be done. I respect and agree with that approach, and so I do it, myself.
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Posted by kickstar on Feb 10, 2010, 02:17 PM EST
Hey ' IrishAndProud ' Do you think this is your Blog space???And Do you know what G-d tells me about you ??? You are Jewish and you follow the Superstitions that make up that belief system...Try typing his name it is God very simple God.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Feb 10, 2010, 01:28 PM EST
I,m like a flower born to blush unseen wasting my sweetness on the desert air" (Grey).Irish shed your siege mentality and you will set yourself free .
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 10, 2010, 05:52 AM EST
(continued)...now, about Arabs and Christians (some are both) living in Israel, were you aware that Arabs in Israel are perfectly allowed to practice their faith there (Israel even allowed Arab women to vote before any Arab nation did), and are exempted from compulsory military service for Israel (though many do, in fact, serve)? And finally, we in the west have the luxury of being concerned about democracy (a Greco-Roman concept, not Jewish), but when you're a Jewish person living in your tiny, ancient homeland -- surrounded by the sea on one side and hostile enemies who've sworn your destruction on nearly all others -- you can't just pull out of this area, or leave that area because some foreign country(s) thousands of miles away demand that you conform to THEIR ideas of goverment, society, borders, etc. It just doesn't work that way for certain other nations...nations like Israel, in particular. Now throw in on top of all this, of course, the fact that the Jews have been targeted over and over and over again throughout history for persecution, pogroms, murder and extermination like virtually no other people -- and you can begin to see why they feel as they do, with regard to self-preservation. Most other lands they've been murdered and/or expelled in, and they have others continuously threatening to do likewise to them, in their own land. They do not deliberately 'keep' the Arabs in perpetually overcrowded and impoverished conditions because they're evil and just love seeing them suffer; the Israelis probably like the whole situation even less than the world does. But they don't have a lot of options, here.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 10, 2010, 05:36 AM EST
Sean, if you read the Jewish T-rah, you will see that Abraham (whose name was originally Abram, before he was recognized as the first Jew) was specifically commanded by G-d to LEAVE his homeland and go to the land which today is Israel. Further, when the Israelites left slavery in Egypt and were given the T-rah, the boundaries of their land were very specifically marked...again, with that land being precisely where their descendants currently live. Yes I know the UN does not recognize those areas as part of Israel...but A) Israel took control of those areas preemtively when Arab armies were moving to destroy it in 1967, and B) Judea and Samaria (aka the 'West Bank') were, and have always been the very heart of Jewish Israel. Without those areas, Israel is especially vulnerable to another attack, being only 10 miles wide at its narrowest...and as I've mentioned, we've seen what happened when Israel merely withdrew from Gaza alone, expecting 'peace' in return; they only got the opposite, by an emboldened enemy, who repeated their goal of wiping Israel out. Jerusalem has always been Israel's capital, and in fact was a Jewish city long before it was in any way Arab (let alone Crusader). Jerusalem is mentioned countless times in the T-rah, and yet does not even appear ONCE in the entire Muslim Q'uran. As for Islam, I've no problem with it so long as its followers do not seek to kill Jews, destroy Israel, and overrun western countries with its people and culture and impose its views by force and/or terrorism on others (this is also why I'm not a neo-con, regarding democracy).
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Feb 10, 2010, 04:02 AM EST
I'm sorry you did not get the pun "in denial (Nile)"however lets move on,if Abraham was the first Jew and as we know he hailed from the ancient city of Ur which is in the modern state of Iraq should you also claim Ur as a Jewish state should the America be returned to it's indigenous owners and the list goes on. The UN does not recognize the West Bank,Gaza or east Jerusalem as part of Israel.And for the record the 1967 borders were agreed by most countries including the USA. For the record I am Irish living in Australia I presume you reside in the USA so neither of us are indigenous to our respective area's. I am not interested in my neighbors religion,color or or creed.Unfortunately you show a Muslim bias by the way what about the second class Christians living along side the second class Arabs in Palestine.Looking at the time differential maybe you reside in Ireland or Brittan and not the USA.By the way I do not worry about Jews ,Arabs or Christians only Justice and democracy.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 10, 2010, 12:53 AM EST
Sean...1) why should I live in Egypt? What's that have to do with anything, here? 2) There have always been Jews who for whatever reason oppose the concept of Zionism (I'm no supporter of secular Zionism, myself)...and, your point? Israel still exists, and has for decades, now. What's supposed to become of it, exactly -- and all the people in it, who've been there for generations, now? Again, would you accept them into your own country? 3)I've not 'muddied' the waters or strayed from the topic, either one. I've been explaining WHY the Arabs are living under the conditions they are. Lastly...are YOU an indigenous native of the land that YOU live in, Sean? If not, then why don't YOU return to the land of YOUR ancestors, rather than worrying about the Jews of Israel on the other side of the world, who ARE in their own land?
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 10, 2010, 12:45 AM EST
Sean, firstly there have always been Jews who for one reason or another do not support the concept of Zionism -- either because they're in secular rebellion against their faith and feel no real connection to the land of Israel at all, and/or because their particular religious perspective (as with some sects of Orthodox Jews) forbids what they see as an attempt by man to usurp G-d's will...and/or anywhere in between. I could list names all day long for you. It does not change the fact that the nation of Israel now exists, and has for many decades now...and for the Arab leadership in Gaza to have its way, Israel would have to cease to exist COMPLETELY, and then what of all its inhabitants, many of whom have now been born and raised there for generations? The land of Israel has been Jewish for thousands of years; they were scattered off it through foreign invasion and even then not all Jews ever totally left it (some have always remained). The concept that it is someone else's land has never been the case -- there is not now, nor has never been, a sovreign independent nation called 'Palestine.' It was always a foreign-occupied territory, when it went by that name...and had become populated by Arab peoples in the meantime, who did not exactly develop the land much beyond how they'd found it.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Feb 09, 2010, 11:43 PM EST
You should live in Egypt you're in denial Irish, maybe you should read Noah Chomsky or other Jews who are not anti Jewish but anti Zionist. The development of Palestine is irrelevant to the ownership of the land ,in other words my neighbor does cut his lawn therefore i will take it and develop it,an irrational concept.Please do not muddy the waters by straying from the original premise.Oppression is oppression regardless of who the perpetrator is be it Iran, Israel, USA, etc.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 09, 2010, 10:09 PM EST
Also, Sean...the development of resources in Israel has happened almost entirely at the hands of the JEWISH people, some of whom never left the area, even through all the in-between centuries when the rest of them were scattered around the globe. They've draines swamps, recultivated desert land, and have been planting trees since their re-establishment. They even left Gaza completely a while back, as the world demanded (and which I strongly disagreed with) -- and look how they were thanked in response: more rocket attacks than ever. Their enemies simply laughed, moved their launchers right up to the border this time, and kept on pounding away without missing a beat. But of course that's still not enough for the likes of Hamas, or Jewish critics the world over. They want Israel WIPED OUT, just like Ahmadinejab has threatened...and I've no doubt they're secretly (if not openly) hoping Iran does it. Interestingly enough, Iran was given its name (replacing 'Persia') by its WW2 ally, Germany. Iran means 'Aryan.' Sorry...I don't side with Iran, here. I side with Israel. 'Am Israel 'Chai!
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 09, 2010, 09:56 PM EST
Further, Sean...'Warsaw ghetto?' Where in the name of all that is reasonable do you come off comparing Gaza to the Warsaw Ghetto of WW2? You're spewing all the formula, anti-Jewish left-wing talking points as fast as you can list them. And you accused ME of not knowing history? This is BASIC stuff, Sean. The Arabs were not herded into Gaza with capo's, just because they were Arabs, with the intent of exterminating them, later...as the Jews in the WG were. The Arabs FLED there upon Israel's re-establishment, and their populace has since increased massively, causing overcrowding. Then their militants shoot at Israel from Gaza, then hide behind their own women and children to ensure THEY get hit by the Israeli response, so guys like you end up with yet another sob story about how the 'evil' Israelis deliberately attack women and children (like the terrorists indeed do, with Jewish kids). And you suck the stuff right up, just like they planned that you would. Were you even aware that Israel is fully 10% Arab? I would think that if Israel wanted to 'ethnically cleanse' itself of Arabs (as the Nazis were doing with the Warsaw Ghetto, as as you insinuate with Gaza) that they would have just slightly done so, by now. Face it, Sean...that is not the reason for Gaza being as it is. The Arabs themselves -- who already have about 99% of the land in the middle east, as it's known -- are to blame here, and all of their countries between them could EASILY accomodate the Arabs of Gaza, and/or alleviate their plight.
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Posted by McClusky on Feb 09, 2010, 09:51 PM EST
Glad to hear Bono is not among those who want to see Israel and all Jews obliterated. The Limerick pogrom: http://tiny.cc/kJj8o
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 09, 2010, 09:38 PM EST
Sean, I challenged you to answer a question, which you DID...NOT...DO. And that answers the question, in itself: you wish the family member I mentioned DEAD, and you want all of Israel wiped out, right along with her. I have NOWHERE said that I want the Arab people wiped out -- but you have flatly RUN from my assertion that YOU want ISRAEL wiped out. As far as the Arab-occupied territories, most of the Arabs who went there initially did so VOLUNTARILY, because they refused to co-exist with the Jews...and then they proceeded to attack Israel repeatedly, in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973...even to this day, groups like Hamas vow to destroy Israel, and that nothing short of that will ever satisfy them. I hear NO condemnation from people like you, about that. And every single time Israel lowers its guard even slightly, they get rocket attacks and suicide bombers up their behinds. So what exactly is Israel supposed to do, just throw open their borders? Cease to exist, again? Go 'home,' perhaps? And if not Israel, then WHERE? Where else are the Jews supposed to go? Back to all the previous countries that massacred and butchered them? Would YOU, Sean, be willing to accept Jews in YOUR country and YOUR neighborhood? Unless, of course, (as I assert) you want them all DEAD. At least jimmy12003 who came after you is open and honest about his desire to finish what Hitler started and EXTERMINATE the Jews (Iran's 'cleaner-upper', as he so delicately put it), but YOU, Sean, won't even openly admit that you feel the same way as Hitler, Ahmadinejad, and jimmy12003.
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Posted by jimmy12003 on Feb 09, 2010, 06:19 PM EST
yes, bono is at it again! sticking his nose in where its not wanted! there is enough unwanted sc-um there since 1948 violating the rights of people and there homelands, without bono pi-ssing about! i wounder will he be there when iran finally sends in the cleaner upper?
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Feb 09, 2010, 05:46 PM EST
The Balfour principals which set-up the Jewish state after WW11 DID NOT GIVE JEWISH state the right to herd Palestinians into the desert steal their crops,houses,businesses,land and water rights. Neither do they have the right to create "Warsaw Ghetto's. It seems wiping the Palestinians of the face of the earth is okay with you Irish And Proud,as with history Justice is also not one of your strong points.
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Posted by Christisall on Feb 09, 2010, 11:56 AM EST
Music is peace except when it is heavy metal and rap. . .Bono's music is wonderful and peaceful.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 09, 2010, 02:34 AM EST
Further, Sean...I have Jewish family members, one of whom is currently in Israel. Are you prepared to tell me that she has no business there (and/or that maybe she should be 'wiped off the map', as the Iranian guy says), simply because she's Jewish? Would you really be that vile? And as for my previous point, do NOT tell others they don't know history...and then just leave it at that, and remain silent otherwise. You need to show specifics, if you're to have any credibility whatsoever.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 09, 2010, 02:25 AM EST
seanomelbourne, name a single thing I said that was inaccurate or untrue. If you insinuate that I don't know what I'm talking about (but of course YOU do) -- and that by acknowedging the FACT that Israel is the ancient homeland of the Jews that I'm somehow 'embarrassing' myself -- then you need to rebut and back up your assertion with FACTS...so, COME ON, Sean...get some guts! Let me hear them! How am I inaccurate in my assertions about that land the Turks and the Brits called 'Palestine'? (Of course you may also wish to disregard the fact that it's JEWISH artifacts and writings that are found there, not Arab...not to mention all other known history about that area)
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Posted by ICGODINCHILDREN on Feb 09, 2010, 01:02 AM EST
One Historically the region was call Palastien basicly what was is today Israel, Leboneon, Jordan and Syria are. There was never country call Palastien it is Historical Faliasy much like what Hollywood has protrayed in rescent so called Historical Movies ie Braveheart. In 1948 the UN was going to make 2 states Jewish State and Arab State well th Arabs said F off okay Modern Israel was reborn for the Jews who European had tried to kill in WW2 a well as Russian in Soviet Russia. Israel has won those lands in wars well the soils go to the victor as always it be like saying you know what give Canada back to the French and the Orginal 13 colonies back to the Brits isnt going to happen. If Bono and U2 go to Israel that is their business tho i dont care to pay 300 USD to sit for 2 hours in nosebleed section to hears so ones political ranting i wantot listen to music that all.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Feb 09, 2010, 12:52 AM EST
What a plastic Irish hypocrite Bono is "we are the world" except for the dispossessed he's unconscionable. I must remark on IrishAndProud's lack of know how in regards to Palestine he should leave history to those with some knowledge of the situation and not embarrass himself
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Posted by trashcan on Feb 08, 2010, 05:31 PM EST
The funniest thing about this article is that U2 hasn't even decided to play in Israel. There is nothing on live nation, U2.com or anywhere about ticket sales, dates, anything. Strangely that goes unmentioned in this article.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 08, 2010, 05:26 PM EST
No, Dan Breen...Israel is a Jewish nation, as it has been for thousands of years, now...the only difference being that the Jewish people have returned home after centuries of exile. If there's any comparison to be made with Ireland, it would be like the native Irish people being forcibly evicted from Eire, then returning back to re-settle it centuries later...with the British occupiers who took over in the meantime (like the so-called 'Palestinians') saying, "No! It's OUR land!" In short, the Jews are back on their own ancient land...and there's not a thing all of these irrelevant, gentile mumblers can do about it. Nothing. Nada. Zip...other than perhaps curse Israel and hope the Jews die -- which of course changes nothing other than expose what a dirty little antisemite you are.
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Posted by KathyCallahan on Feb 08, 2010, 05:12 PM EST
bono is the schmuck of all schmucks. i know that based on a wellspring of first hand/person experience. Cold to the bone when the cameras aren't running in his face
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Posted by bettyel on Feb 08, 2010, 05:01 PM EST
I would hope that Bono, who has done so much for world peace, would not give in to the demands of a terrorist nation.
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Posted by dan Breen on Feb 08, 2010, 04:50 PM EST
If you read history you will realize that Israel is a modern day northern ireland with bigger guns.(American money) Google finkelstein. They have the same seige mentality as the unionist of northern ireland. Bono needs the money to Re-build Ballymon hahahaha..............
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Feb 08, 2010, 03:17 PM EST
Dermo2inVa, yes...Israel was re-established in blood and terrorism...because the Arabs were the ones inflicting it! THEY refused to recognize Israel or share the land -- which the Israelis themselves were willing to do -- and went to war against Israel REPEATEDLY in an attempt to liquidate it. You apparently claim to speak for the Irish people...tell me, do you support Irish republicans, or for that matter ANY guerilla movement that uses bombings and killings to achieve its aims? Without such tactics there would be no free Ireland today, either, Dermo...they've been used throughout history, including by America's own 'Founding Fathers,' as they're known. Perhaps YOU should read some history books.
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Posted by Starlet on Feb 08, 2010, 03:09 PM EST
I've thought of visiting Israel myself but would be scared of Hamas or any other terrorist group they're affiliated with bombing my hotel or cafe. Bono is brave and Music is peace. He's proving he's a man of peace.


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