By Seyit Kurt
ISTANBUL (AA) - Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has said he would not perform in Israel again, citing his opposition to the current government in Tel Aviv.
In an interview published by The Sunday Times on Saturday, Yorke also reflected on the controversy surrounding the band’s 2017 concert in Tel Aviv.
When asked if he would ever perform in the Israeli capital again, Yorke replied: “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime, but Jonny (Greenwood) has roots there. So I get it.”
Greenwood, however, said he “politely disagreed” with Yorke’s stance.
“I would argue that the government is more likely to use a boycott and say, ‘Everyone hates us—we should do exactly what we want.’ Which is far more dangerous,” he said.
Greenwood added that while he regretted dragging his bandmates into political controversy, he was proud of working with both Arab and Jewish musicians.
Radiohead’s 2017 Tel Aviv concert drew criticism from the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which urged the band to cancel the show in protest of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Yorke was recently interrupted during a solo performance in Melbourne, Australia, by a pro-Palestinian protester who heckled him on stage.
He also commented on Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, saying the country should not be allowed to take part.
Israel has competed in Eurovision since 1973, but calls for its exclusion have intensified in recent years following Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.