LONDON: A member of English band Radiohead has rejected accusations of “artwashing genocide” after collaborating with an Israeli artist and performing in Tel Aviv.
Jonny Greenwood, 52, a founding member of the band, has performed with Israeli artist Dudu Tassa since 2008, The Independent reported.
In May this year they performed in Tel Aviv, and last year released an album of Arabic love songs, “Jarak Qaribak.”
A day before the concert in Tel Aviv on May 26, Greenwood attended a protest calling for the release of hostages from Gaza and the holding of new elections in Israel.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement said in a statement: “Palestinians unequivocally condemn Jonny Greenwood’s shameful artwashing of Israel’s genocide.
“We call for peaceful, creative pressure on his band Radiohead to convincingly distance itself from this blatant complicity in the crime of crimes, or face grassroots measures.”
Greenwood, who is married to Israeli visual artist Sharona Katan, has hit back at critics for the “silencing of this, or any, artistic effort made by Israeli Jews.”
His album combining “Arab and Jewish musicians” is “worthwhile,” he said in a social media statement on Tuesday.
“Reminding everyone that the Jewish cultural roots in countries like Iraq and Yemen go back for thousands of years, is also important,” he added.
“So that’s why I’m making music with this band. You’re welcome to disagree with, or ignore, what we do, but I hope you now understand what the true motivation is, and can react to the music without suspicion or hate.
“Silencing Israeli artists for being born Jewish in Israel doesn’t seem like any way to reach an understanding between the two sides of this apparently endless conflict.”
Radiohead has long enjoyed popularity in Israel. After a 2017 show in Israel, frontman Thom Yorke said the band “does not stand” with BDS, and “playing in a country isn’t the same as endorsing its government.”
The nephew of Greenwood’s wife was serving in the Israel Defense Forces when he was killed in Gaza this year, The Guardian reported.
After repeated Israeli performances in recent years, Radiohead came under fire from prominent musical figures, including Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, through the campaign group Artists for Palestine.
British film director Ken Loach also wrote an opinion piece for The Independent urging Radiohead to join the cultural boycott against Israel.
