American pop stars the Backstreet Boys have been forced to cancel a performance in Israel after security fear during the latest round of conflict between Israel and Gaza militants.
In a joint decision by the IDF Home Command and the Rishon LeZion local government, the long-awaited gig, part of the band's world tour, was cancelled with just hours' notice on Friday afternoon.
Israel has been rocked by nearly a week of nonstop rockets from the Gaza Strip, which the IDF believe to be coming from Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Operation Shield and Arrow, the IDF codename for the latest series of military engagements, started on Tuesday morning after an Israel Air Force strike on three high-level targets in Gaza City.