More than a hundred well-known writers, actors, directors and musicians pledge their support for the singer Lorde, who has decided not to perform in Israel

We write in support of Lorde, who made public her decision not to perform in Israel and has now been branded a bigot in a full page advertisement in the Washington Post (Report, 1 January).

Shmuley Boteach, the author and promoter of the advert, supports Israel’s illegal settlements and wrote last month on Breitbart to thank Donald Trump for “electrifying the world” with his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in defiance of international law.

He has nothing to teach artists about human rights. We deplore the bullying tactics being used to defend injustice against Palestinians and to suppress an artist’s freedom of conscience. We support Lorde’s right to take a stand.



Tubde Adebimpe Musician

Adjoa Andoh Actor

Julie Christie Actor

Caryl Churchill Playwright

Dominic Cooke Director

Kia Corthron Playwright

Molly Crabapple Artist

John Cusack Actor

Cherien Dabis Film and TV director

William Dalrymple Writer

Angela Davis Writer

David Edgar Playwright

Brian Eno Musician

Eve Ensler Playwright

Shepard Fairey Artist

Bella Freud Designer

Peter Gabriel Musician

Lisa Gerrard Composer

Tom Gilroy Director

David Gray Musician

Kathleen Hanna Musician

AL Kennedy Writer

Jonathan Kent Opera and theatre director

Hari Kunzru Writer

Talib Kweli Musician

David Lan Artistic director, Young Vic

Ken Loach Film director

Miriam Margolyes Actor

Yann Martel Writer

Emel Mathlouthi Musician

Viggo Mortensen Actor

Tom Morello Musician

David Morrissey Actor

Peter Mullan Actor

Maxine Peake Actor

Jocelyn Pook Composer

Mark Ruffalo Actor

Alexei Sayle Comedian

James Schamus Screenwriter

Gillian Slovo Writer

Ahdaf Soueif Writer

Juliet Stevenson Actor

Alice Walker Writer

Roger Waters Musician

Benjamin Zephaniah Poet

and 56 others full list at http://artistsforpalestine.org.uk/2018/01/05/leading-artists-stand-with-lorde/

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