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Matisyahu row: Spain censures festival over Jewish singer Matisyahu row: Jewish singer invited back to festival
(about 5 hours later)
The Spanish government has condemned a festival for cancelling a Jewish-American singer's concert after he refused to share his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A Jewish-American singer whose concert in Spain was cancelled after he refused to share his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been invited back to perform.
The foreign ministry said asking reggae singer Matisyahu to make such a declaration "put into question the principle of non-discrimination". Rap and reggae singer Matisyahu had been due to appear at the Rototom Sunsplash festival this week.
He had been due to appear at the Rototom Sunsplash festival this week. Organisers said they "respect the Jewish community and ask for sincere apologies for what happened".
Israel welcomed the Spanish government's stance. Matisyahu has not said whether he will accept their offer to perform.
The Spanish foreign ministry said the request from the festival was an "act that violates the conscience". In a post on his Facebook page, Matisyahu said the pressure from the festival organisers to air his views had been "appalling and offensive".
Jewish groups have also condemned the festival's actions.
'Cowardly and unfair'
In a post on his Facebook page, Matisyahu said the pressure to air his views was "appalling and offensive".
A drive to cancel Matisyahu's appearance was launched by the Valencia branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.A drive to cancel Matisyahu's appearance was launched by the Valencia branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
The pro-Palestinian group calls for a boycott of Israeli goods until it complies with international law - Israel calls the campaign misleading and anti-Semitic.The pro-Palestinian group calls for a boycott of Israeli goods until it complies with international law - Israel calls the campaign misleading and anti-Semitic.
BDS Valencia said that, because of some of Matisyahu's previous comments on Israeli affairs, his values did not tally with those of the festival, namely "peace, equality, human rights and social justice". BDS Valencia said that, because of some of Matisyahu's lyrics and his previous comments on Israeli affairs, his values did not tally with those of the festival, namely "peace, equality, human rights and social justice".
'Cowardly and unfair'
On Wednesday, officials from Rototom Sunsplash said that the decision to cancel his appearance was because of "threats and coercion promoted by Valencia's BDS that could seriously disrupt the normal functioning of the festival".
They originally said they had cancelled his slot after having "repeatedly sought dialogue in the face of the artist's unavailability to give a clear statement against war and on the right of the Palestinian people".
The singer, born in Pennsylvania, said he did not insert politics into his music, and that he wanted it to be accessible to all.The singer, born in Pennsylvania, said he did not insert politics into his music, and that he wanted it to be accessible to all.
The Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities said the move was "cowardly, unfair and discriminatory".The Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities said the move was "cowardly, unfair and discriminatory".
World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder said the decision was a "clear instance of anti-Semitism".World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder said the decision was a "clear instance of anti-Semitism".
The festival's organisers said Matisyahu's appearance was cancelled after they had "repeatedly sought dialogue in the face of the artist's unavailability to give a clear statement against war and on the right of the Palestinian people". Late on Tuesday, the Spanish foreign ministry said the request from the festival was an "act that violates the conscience" and "put into question the principle of non-discrimination".
They later added: "We did not say no to Matisyahu because he has Hebrew roots or as a Zionist, but we just simply considered inappropriate organising something that would certainly generate a conflict." Israel welcomed the Spanish government's stance.