The recent controversy over efforts by Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement activists to require a Jewish-American singer, popularly known as Matisyahu, to make an anti-Israel statement as a condition of his being allowed to perform in a music festival in Spain provides a window into the nefarious nature of anti-Israel activists.
Spanish BDSers successfully pressured the Rototom Sunsplash reggae festival to require an anti-Israel statement from Matisyahu because he is Jewish. Matisyahu was the only Jewish performer at the festival, and no one else was asked to make a similar statement. Matisyahu refused to comply and his invitation was withdrawn. Eventually, the resultant hue and cry forced festival officials to reverse themselves and reinstate the invitation.
It would have been bad enough if Matisyahu were Israeli – BDS activists are not shy about discriminating against Israelis simply because they are Israelis – but he was targeted because he is a Jew who is supportive of Israel. That takes it one step further.
We are gratified at the horrified reaction of the Spanish government and media. The Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “Imposing a public declaration [from Matisyahu] puts into question the principle of non-discrimination on which all plural and diverse societies are based.”
The Spanish newspaper El Pais said in an editorial,
Anti-Semitism and discrimination on the grounds of ideology cannot be tolerated and must be stood up to. Criticism of Israel’s policies and defense of the Palestinians cannot be used as cover for systematic persecution of those who hold different views, or because they are Jewish. Spain’s politicians need to speak out about this scandal that questions this country’s commitment to free speech and thought.
The Wall Street Journal deserves the last word here. “Remember the Matisyahu affair,” the paper editorialized, “the next time proponents of the anti-Israel boycott, divest and sanction movement insist their aim is to promote Palestinian rights, not anti-Jewish bigotry.”