Pop Culture

One telling sign is the way charity “awareness-raising” events have become increasingly one-sided. This is a big change from the period after the terrorist outrage that began the conflict in October 2023, when numerous venues and ensembles in Europe and beyond mounted concerts in aid of Israel. [...] Then things began to change as Israel launched its bombing campaign and the death toll in Gaza mounted. Examples of censoring or banning of Israeli organisations or musicians began to appear, justified in different ways.

Supporting/normalising a genocidal state became a bad look, who knew

a Palestinian aid group – one that has been accused in some quarters of anti-Israel bias.

they don't like the state genociding them?

Tel Aviv opera, which the signatories insist is an organisation complicit in the mass slaughter of civilians by the IDF.

"Tel Aviv opera" is literally across the street from the IDF headquarters ("Matcal tower" on the map).

None of the venues involved is making any demands on the organisers to share the proceeds with Israeli charities, or “distance themselves” from Hamas. The double standard is blatant, but no one calls it out because it is clear who has won the propaganda war.

I remember someone saying that Israelis/Zionists don't just want to be able to do genocide but still be liked while doing it too, so they'll always whine even if they're unimpeded because they gained a bad reputation.