Radiohead to play Tel Aviv in July, their first Israeli show since 2000

Radiohead announced on Twitter on 8 February that they will play Park HaYarkon, Tel Aviv's big open park, on Wednesday 19 July, with tickets already on sale. It will be the band's fourth visit to Israel and their first since 2000. The Hebrew news site Ynet and Israel's Channel 2 had reported a single July show at the park three days earlier.

Within a day, some listeners replied on Twitter asking the band to cancel. Some called Israel an apartheid state and the show a crossing of an international picket line; others appealed to human rights or cited the cultural boycott called for by the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign. Its best-known voice among musicians is Roger Waters, formerly of Pink Floyd.

IBTimes UK reported speculation that the band were unlikely to cancel, since Jonny Greenwood is married to the Israeli-born artist Sharona Katan and made the 2015 album Junun with the Israeli musician Shye Ben Tzur.

Ynet says Israeli fans have long held that their country “discovered” Radiohead, its radio stations being among the first anywhere to play “Creep”.

Radiohead in Israel