A music festival in Spain has canceled the performance of American Jewish reggae star Matisyahu following intense pressure from the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, Spanish daily El Pais reported Sunday. According to the report, Rototom Sunsplash Reggae Festival's organizers issued the singer an ultimatum demanding he release a statement of "clear support for the Palestinians right to a state" or face the consequences. Matisyahu refused, and his Aug. 22 concert was promptly canceled. A statement posted on the festival's Facebook page said Rototom's move was linked its "social platform" and its "sensitivity to Palestine, its people and the occupation of its territory by Israel." According to El Pais, other artists participating in the festival said they would cancel their performances if Matisyahu was allowed to take the stage as he "represents Israel." The BDS movement welcomed the decision, saying Matisyahu is "a Zionist who supports the practice of apartheid." Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress denounced the decision, calling it "a clear instance of anti-Semitism and nothing else." In a statement posted on the WJC website he urged Spanish authorities to "condemn this sad incident and take appropriate action against those responsible for it. "Matisyahu ... not only has a right to express his views -- whether you agree with them or not -- but he also has every right not to have the repugnant views of the festival organizers imposed on him. He is a musician who has been denied the opportunity to play his planned gig at a European reggae festival purely because he is Jewish and because he refuses to side with the vicious and bigoted BDS movement. "To the people of Spain, I say this: Being a 'Zionist' and supporting Israel has nothing to do with supporting apartheid. Rather, it is about supporting democracy, the rule of law, freedom, openness and diversity," Lauder said. "The Rototom Sunsplash festival benefits from financial support from public authorities. I very much hope that they will convey a clear message to the organizers that either they re-invite Matisyahu and apologize for their outrageous behavior, or they pay back that financial aid, because anti-Semitism and racism must not be rewarded by public support -- not in Spain, and not anywhere else. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain, the WJC's Spain affiliate, also condemned the incident, calling it "cowardly, unjust and discriminatory." Matisyahu has yet to address the reports.
