Thom Yorke Declines to Perform in Israel Under Netanyahu’s Government

Thom Yorke, frontman of the British rock band Radiohead, has stated that he would no longer perform in Israel, especially under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes eight years after the band controversially performed in Tel Aviv despite calls from pro-Palestinian activists to boycott the country. Yorke told the Sunday Times that he would not want to be ‘anywhere near the Netanyahu regime,’ emphasizing his opposition to the current government. During the band’s 2016-2018 world tour, Radiohead faced significant backlash for their performance in Israel, which they defended at the time as separate from endorsing the government. However, Yorke has expressed regret over the decision, mentioning that he felt ‘horrified’ when an Israeli official thanked the band for playing in Tel Aviv. This decision reflects Yorke’s evolving stance on the issue and is likely to resonate with the ongoing debate about cultural boycotts in relation to Israel. Despite this, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood continues to work with Israeli musicians and publicly supports calls for Netanyahu’s removal. The band’s stance has led to continued controversy within the pro-Palestinian movement.