“The background to the cancellation is the persistent anti-Israel behavior of the former Pink Floyd frontman, who is considered one of the leading anti-Semites,” the city council said, as interpreted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency website. “He has repeatedly called for a boycott of Israel, compared it to apartheid in South Africa and pressured artists to cancel their shows in Israel.”
During concerts in Israel, Waters publicly criticized, for example, Madonna, Radiohead, Nick Cave or the Chemical Brothers.
It’s not the first controversy surrounding the Pink Floyd frontman’s upcoming tour. In September of last year, Waters’ performances in Krakow, Poland, were canceled because the council did not like his war stances. Waters claims that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal but also provoked.
He himself commented on the war at the beginning of February at a meeting of the UN Security Council. “The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation was illegal. I condemn her in the strongest possible terms. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine was provoked, and I equally condemn the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms,” Waters said.
Waters’ tour called This is Not A Drill has several more stops in Germany: the singer is scheduled to play in Hamburg, Cologne and Munich. He is also planning two concerts in Prague’s 02 Arena on May 24 and 25.
