DISPELS PRIOR RUMORS THAT 2010 CONCERT WAS CANCELED AS A RESULT OF BOYCOTT PRESSURE OR SUPPORT

Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) has confirmed that Carlos Santana will perform in Israel this summer on July 30 at Tel Aviv’s HaYarkon Park. In 2010, Santana had to cancel his scheduled performance and there were many reports citing boycott pressure as the reason. If the announcement of his upcoming concert is not reason enough to dispel the myth, Santana’s management company clarified in a statement – just released – that this was clearly not the case.

“Santana had scheduled date to perform in Israel in 2010. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to cancel that date along with others that we had planned to play. This was in no way cancelled because of any pressure we received from any anti-Israeli organization or any other organization for that matter. Carlos Santana is a citizen of the World and he plays his music and spreads his message of Love, Light & Peace wherever he goes. Carlos believes the World should have no borders so he is not detoured or discouraged to play anywhere on this planet. We look forward to performing in Israel this summer.” -Michael Vrionis, President of Universal Tone Management

Santana’s concert is hardly the only false claim of victory made by boycott supporters. In fact, nearly every concert cancelation in Israel, even if done for the most mundane reason, is put in political terms and used for political goals. Just this year, Henry Rollins’ cancelation was claimed as a victory by boycott supporters, despite the fact that his cancellation was simply due to a conflict with the promoter. Last year, Primus canceled its Israel show due to technical issues, but again it was cited as a boycott victory.

Creative Community for Peace thanks Santana – and all artists scheduled to perform in Israel this year – for standing up for artistic freedom. David Renzer, co-founder of CCFP, shared, “We very much appreciate the clarifying statement from Santana’s management. Unfortunately, there are a variety of instances where boycott Israel groups claim an artist is boycotting, only to have the artist later clarify that this was untrue. Further, we believe that singling out Israel for a cultural boycott will only shut the doors of communication, hinder efforts to resolve the conflict, and fan the flames of extremism.”

Creative Community for Peace is an entertainment industry organization focused on supporting artistic freedom, countering the cultural boycott of Israel, providing balance to the dialogue regarding the Middle East, and encouraging the arts as a bridge towards peace.

Suzanne Vega’s Israel ‘Horizon’

By: Jill Hoyt – Director, Creative Community For Peace

and Nick Lieber – Editorial Associate and Analyst, Creative Community For Peace

“I feel a kind of soulfulness from the people of Israel,” Singer-Songwriter Suzanne Vega said. “There is always a warm electricity in the air.”

Vega, the American folk performer, internationally known since her 1987 hit singles “Luka”and “Tom’s Diner,” recently performed in Tel Aviv in support of her eighth studio album, “Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles” as well as with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, marking her fifth time performing in Israel.

“I’ve always been warmly embraced in Israel, from the release of my first album,” Vega told Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), an organization representing prominent members of the entertainment industry devoted to promoting the arts as a means to peace. “I came this time because I really wanted to play with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. I felt it was important for my growth as an artist.”

Vega faced substantial pressure on social media to cancel her June show from supporters of BDS movement, a political campaign seeking to isolate and delegitimize Israel by calling for a cultural boycott.

“I think the cultural boycott punishes people who make their living in the arts, both in Israel and [around the world],” Vega said. “If culture is the medium by which we have dialogue, boycotting cuts this off. It doesn’t add to it.”

Vega believes that a better approach is to perform in Israel and support organizations fostering dialogue in the region. “I think a group such as ‘A Crack In The Wall’ is a better idea,” Vega said, referring to the group whose aims is to create cracks in the proverbial walls separating the peoples of the region by enabling opportunities for dialogue. Vega believes music can be a vessel for such dialogue and understanding, and this comes through in her music. Vega has a song called “A Crack In the Wall” which she performed in Tel Aviv.

“I wanted to sing my song ‘Horizon’ in Israel,” Vega told CCFP, “as it’s a song about transcending your limitations and your conflicts through the ideal of love. I didn’t want to be bullied out of it.” The song was dedicated to and inspired by Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, who Vega got a chance to know before his death in 2011. Vega admired him for leading his country and its people to freedom in a peaceful way.

When asked about her connection to her audience in Israel, Vega said: “I make a distinction between the people and the politics,” she said. “How could I not? I come from America and believe me I have not always agreed with the policies of my own government. Yet I still choose to live there. These things must be worked through.”