Following a barrage of criticism, organizers of an international reggae festival in Spain backtracked Wednesday and apologized for cancelling a concert by Jewish American reggae star Matisyahu because he had declined to state his position regarding a Palestinian state. Rototom Sunsplash Festival said in a statement that it publicly apologized for canceling the concert and invited Matisyahu to play as originally planned this coming Saturday. It said it recognized its mistake, adding that it had been the result of pressure by a local branch of the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which campaigned against Matisyahu's participation. The decision to cancel the concert sparked massive criticism. The World Jewish Congress wrote to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, calling on him to condemn the cancellation, adding that the "scandalous behavior" of Rototom Sunsplash festival organizers demanded firm action by Spain. In the letter, the WJC said the decision's "anti-Semitic overtones are not in Spain's best interests," adding that the Jewish community in Spain and worldwide were deeply troubled by the incident. The organization had suggested Spain should consider recuperating public funding for the festival, being held this week in eastern Spain. The Spanish government slammed the festival's decision to cancel the Matisyahu's performance. Spain's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the government understood the Jewish communities' unease, adding that Spain opposed boycott campaigns against Israel and any manifestation of anti-Semitism. It reiterated its support for a Palestinian state through negotiations. Earlier this week, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain condemned what it called the festival's "cowardly and discriminatory decision" to cancel the concert, and its organizers' "capitulation to the extortion and humiliation by the BDS movement." A federation official told Israel Hayom the group was "outraged by the fact [BDS] 'accused' Matisyahu of being a Zionist. BDS activists must be prosecuted in court over their attempts to delegitimize the State of Israel." The World Jewish Congress and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain welcomed the festival organizers' change of heart Wednesday. On his Facebook page, Matisyahu, whose name is Matthew Miller, said Monday that festival organizers were pressured by the pro-Palestinian group and wanted him "to write a letter, or make a video, stating my positions on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to pacify the BDS people. "I support peace and compassion for all people. My music speaks for itself, and I do not insert politics into my music," he said. It was not immediately known if Matisyahu will accept the new invitation.
