Morrissey has spoken in detail about his admiration for the people of Israel and his “love” of the city of Tel Aviv.
In an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel to promote the release of his new album, Low In High School, the former Smiths frontman also slammed the anti-Israel BDS movement as “absurd”.
But the same interview has sparked anger with Morrissey attempting to defend both actor Kevin Spacey and disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein over allegations of sexual misconduct.
And in comments like to raise further concern the 58-year-old singer, whose real name is Stephen Patrick Morrissey, compared the conduct of the British media to that of the “Third Reich”.
Asked about a song on his album titled The Girl from Tel Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel, Morrissey replied:” I love this city [Tel Aviv].
“The rest of the world does not like Israel well. But the people there are very generous and friendly. You should never judge a people by their government. It is very rare for the government to reflect the wishes of the people. “
Morrissey went on to attack the boycott movement. “I'm against it… It is absurd and narrow-minded. Being politically correct is incorrect. It is absurd. It means forbidding the freedom of speech. This is how the BDS movement sounds to me.”
He later added:” Yes, I mean, you have to open the debate. Just as one should not boycott Israel. You have to sit down and listen to people. You cannot say I'm not listening, you do not agree, so you're wrong. “
But hitting out at the British media who he says have falsely suggested one of the new album’s other songs is about Brexit, Morrissey said of the UK press: “They are now like the Third Reich. “
On The Girl From Tel Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel, he pays homage to the theatrical production of the same name based on the diaries of Etty Hillesum, who was murdered in Auschwitz in 1943.
A second song, Israel, the final track on the album, features lyrics accusing those who "rain abuse" on Israel of doing so because they are "jealous" of the country.
