Radiohead’s Thom Yorke hits back at Ken Loach over Tel Aviv show criticism
British musician rejects award-winning filmmakers criticism of his band's decision to play in the Jewish state on July 19
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has hit back at director Ken Loach over criticism of the band’s upcoming gig in Israel.
The award-winning filmmaker has repeatedly called on the group to cancel the concert on July 19 as part of a cultural boycott against Israel and on Tuesday accused them of undermining the struggle for human rights in an opinion piece in the Independent.
Responding to Loach tweeting out the article, Yorke said performing in Tel Aviv did not mean they were endorsing Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu any more than playing in the US was supporting President Donald Trump.
He added: “Music, art and academia is about crossing borders not building them, about open minds not closed ones, about shared humanity, dialogue and freedom of expression.”
Following Loach’s call for the band to snub playing in the Jewish state, it emerged that the director’s film ‘I Daniel Blake’ was appearing at a number of Tel Aviv cinemas. The film is being show at the Lev Tel Aviv cinema on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Yorke had earlier responded to an open letter signed by stars from across TV and music, including Loach and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, which called on them to cancel the show.
He told Rolling Stone in June it was “deeply disrespectful to assume that we’re either being misinformed or that we’re so retarded we can’t make these decisions ourselves”.
The band have been faced with a number of Palestinian flags during recent headline performances at both Glastonbury Festival and TRNSMT in Scotland.
After flags were raised at TRNSMT in Scotland, Yorke reportedly told the crowd: “Some f****** people”.
The gig in Tel Aviv wraps up their world tour which began in May 2016.
Radiohead should heed their friends who tell them that by performing in Tel Aviv they will undermine the struggle for human rights. #BDS
— Ken Loach (@KenLoachSixteen) July 11, 2017
???? pic.twitter.com/GV95qCcYoI
— Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) July 11, 2017
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
