Matisyahu is victim of BDS antisemitism, say Spanish Jews

Matisyahu was set to perform at the Rototom Sunsplash Reggae Festival in Spain when something odd happened. “In light of the controversy, we have contacted Matisyahu to find out his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict and on Zionism”, the organizers wrote. Although the festival has been vague about the reasons for canceling Matisyahu’s performance, his crimes seem to come down to a handful of statements, about the flotilla incident of 2010, and (vaguely, in response to a question posed to him by the Cornell Daily Sun) about the status of Palestine under the British mandate.

Spanish music festival demanded Jewish-American reggae star Matisyahu endorse Palestinian statehood, and then canceled his upcoming show after the singer declined, Spanish media reported Saturday. More importantly, though, it has revealed, once again, that the BDS movement encourages the application of ideological purity tests to all Jews.

The event director, Filippo Giunta, asked the singer on Thursday to issue a “signing statement or video” that expressed in a “very clear” way that Palestinians are entitled to their own state, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. The pressure appeared too much for the festival organizers. The cancellation occurred after the Valencian country BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) a few days ago has started a campaign against the Jewish artist, who has been accused of “Zionist” and “justify a State practicing -Israel- the apartheid and ethnic cleansing, “as noted on his Facebook page”.

Matisyahu, who released his first album in 2004, was affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement but later distanced himself from it by famously shaving his beard and side locks. “The Jamaican artist will perform at the Main Stage the night of August 22”, organizers said.

It added: “As Spaniards, we are ashamed of the organisers”. “In this case, the BDS Movement employed all its anti-Semitic arsenal against the participation on Matthew Paul Miller”, using Matisyahu’s full name.

“Such acts violate the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution, deny the legitimate exercise of professional activities and cause discrimination and hatred that preys with groups and individuals for their origin”, it said.

“Stop with the violence, Down with the hate”, Matisyahu’s lyrics say.