Lauryn Hill cancels Israel show

Singer LAURYN HILL has cancelled a show in Israel after coming under pressure from a social media campaign which urged her to boycott the country.
The former Fugees singer was due to perform in Tel Aviv on Thursday (07May15) but chose to axe the gig because she did not want to be seen aligning herself with a particular side amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Hill admits she had wanted to schedule a second show in Ramallah on the West Bank, an area of political tension, but she ran into logistical problems.
In a post on her website, she writes, “When deciding to play the region, my intention was to perform in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah. Setting up a performance in the Palestinian Territory, at the same time as our show in Israel, proved to be a challenge. I’ve wanted very much to bring our live performance to this part of the world, but also to be a presence supporting justice and peace. It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans. For this reason, we have decided to cancel the upcoming performance in Israel, and seek a different strategy to bring my music to all of my fans in the region. May healing, equanimity, and the openness necessary for lasting resolution and reconciliation come to this region and its people.”