Kiwi pop star Lorde is being criticised for scheduling a concert in Israel, with some fans calling on her to boycott the country while others are applauding the move.
The 'Green Light' hitmaker announcing her Tel Aviv gig is confirmation she won't be joining other artists in the controversial Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) Movement, which "works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians".
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Lorde, 21, announced her first ever Israeli tour date on Twitter this week along with two Russian concerts.
"We think it's a very unwise thing for Lorde to have accepted," Janfrie Wakim, spokesperson for the New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network, told Newshub.
"Israel should be boycotted until it complies with international law and the norms of human society."
Ms Wakim says Lorde should talk with Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters to learn more about the BDS Movement.
While several tweets also urge Lorde to cancel her Tel Aviv concert and not "dance on the bodies of those denied freedom", others have leapt to her defence.
"She's doing this for the fans, please leave politics out of this," writes @psychoehigh.
"Israel is full of innocent young people who have the same right to see their favourite artist in concert just as anybody else. It's not their fault, let's not generalise and consider the whole Israel population as the bad guy or else we're falling into the same mistakes."
Ms Wakim argues that while Israeli people should be allowed to experience live music freely, Palestinians should also have that right. She doesn't agree with those who say music and 'politics' should be separated.
"Those sorts of arguments were also made when we were battling Apartheid in South Africa. But the situation for the Palestinian people is simply unacceptable," says Ms Wakim.
Lorde is set to perform at the Tel Aviv Convention Centre on June 5, 2018.
Universal Music NZ, her local record label, has been approached for comment.
The BDS Movement has caused fierce debate within the entertainment industry, with opposing views on how to deal with the Israel/Palestine conflict.
Newshub.
