Lorde's 'right decision' to boycott Israel, a beacon of hope

Moreover, the Jerusalem Post editorial does not follow its own logic. Performing in Tel Aviv is indeed an "economic" decision: artists do it for the money. Lorde turned that opportunity down.

Paying the price

On the other hand, not performing there, especially when accompanied by a political statement critical of Israeli abuses, carries a heavy penalty. Earlier this year, for example, Talib Kweli’s show at a German club was cancelled because of his support for BDS. 

And even an established artist with the stature of Roger Waters continues to pay the price for his pro-BDS stance, as evidenced by the recent decision by five German state television and radio stations not to broadcast his concerts, "in reaction to anti-Semitism accusations against him".

The German ban is explicitly punitive, as the network of stations explained it "wanted to send a message to other artists who, heeding BDS' call, refuse to perform in Israel". 

The BDS movement has no such leverage to apply to artists, calling upon them, instead, to simply do the right thing. 

“By caving in to BDS pressure, Lorde let herself be used as a political tool and joined a short list of performers who backed out of shows in Israel out of some distorted sense of solidarity with the Palestinian cause,” the Jerusalem Post editorial continues. The list, of course, is not short at all. 

The right decision

But one must wonder at how the Jerusalem Post, as indeed all Zionists, understand "pressure" and bullying. The open letter she received from two compatriots of around her own age, Nadia Abu Shanab and Justine Sacks, sounds extremely polite, gentle indeed.

"Today, millions of people stand opposed to the Israeli government’s policies of oppression, ethnic cleansing, human rights violations, occupation and apartheid. As part of this struggle, we believe that an economic, intellectual and artistic boycott is an effective way of speaking out against these crimes. This worked very effectively against apartheid in South Africa, and we hope it can work again," Nadia (who is of Palestinian descent) and Justine (who is Jewish) reminded Lorde. 

"We can play an important role in challenging injustice today. We urge you to act in the spirit of progressive New Zealanders who came before you and continue their legacy.

"In 2017, Lorde, reignite the spirit of 1981 and show the world that New Zealanders are the progressive forward-thinking people we say we are. Please join the artistic boycott of Israel, cancel your Israeli tour dates and make a stand. Your voice will join many others and together we can and will make a difference." New Zealand in 1981 attracted attention for the cancellation of a rugby game against South Africa after an anti-apartheid pitch invasion.

It takes institutional, structural power, to "pressure" an artist into cancelling a concert, power that BDS activists do not have. Instead, what we are seeing is "pressure" applied by Israel for Lorde to reconsider her cancellation.

Thus Israel's culture minister, Miri Regev, called on Lorde to reconsider, even as Israel's ambassador to New Zealand "invited" her to a meeting, while the Jerusalem Post editorial board has pilloried her in three editorials so far. Surely this is a lot more intimidating than a tweet from a fan. 

Lorde did not cancel her Tel Aviv concert after BDS "pressure". An open letter, urgent messages, a plea, do not amount to "pressure". She was not “bullied” - at least not by BDS activists. She did not “cave in,” she rose to the occasion. She honoured the Palestinian call for boycotting Israel because of its human rights abuses.

As she put it herself, "it was the right decision".  

If Lorde's age is relevant at all, it is not as an indication of naivete, but rather as a beacon of hope. Like the young Palestinians who continue to defy one of the world's most powerful militaries, Lorde represents a new generation of globally aware individuals who are willing to learn, make up their own minds, and not be pressured by powerful oppressors.

Unlike such self-centered artists as Nick Cave or Joy Harjo, who knowingly crossed picket lines because they believed they somehow were exempt from having to make the right ethical choice, Lorde will one day proudly proclaim she was amongst the great artists who boycotted apartheid in the 21st century.

- Nada Elia is a diaspora Palestinian writer and political commentator, currently working on her second book, Who You Callin' 'Demographic Threat?' Notes from the Global Intifada. A professor of gender and global studies (retired), she is a member of the steering collective of the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI)

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.

Photo: Israel's culture minister, Miri Regev, called on Lorde to reconsider, even as Israel's ambassador to New Zealand "invited" her to a meeting, while the Jerusalem Post editorial board has pilloried her in three editorials so far (AFP)