One of Brazil’s most acclaimed musicians has called off an upcoming show in Israel due to “apprehension” over the current tensions.
Singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil, a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, announced Tuesday he had canceled a performance scheduled for July 4 in Ra’anana, home to the largest concentration of Brazilian immigrants in Israel.
“We are very sorry but after careful consideration with our artists and band we will not be able to perform in Israel this year. The general sentiment of all is one of apprehension as Israel is going through this sensitive moment,” Gil wrote.
Although he didn’t mention Gaza, the “sensitive moment” has been interpreted as a reference to the recent violent clashes along the border, where more than 100 Palestinians – many of them members of the terrorist group Hamas – have been killed during seven weeks of protests. Supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, or BDS, celebrated Gil’s decision.
JTA