A petition calling for musicians to perform in Israel has received more than 18,000 signatures, as Alicia Keys stands firm on performing in Tel Aviv next month.

The campaign, entitled ‘Don’t Let Israel's Detractors Politicise Art’, was started in March by American non-profit group Creative Community for Peace, and tells performers that “Cultural boycotts drown out freedom and the voices of change”, encouraging them instead to “use the power of your music to help bring hope and peace to the region”.

The organisation laments “false accusations” that Israel is an apartheid state, and aims to combat opposing petitions promoting the withdrawal of Ms Keys, who is scheduled to play a concert in Tel Aviv on July 4.

Despite an appeal launched by a coalition of 500 American pro-boycott organisations that gathered over 12,000 signatures, the R&B star has stated that she had no plans to cancel her show next month.

“I look forward to my first visit to Israel. Music is a universal language that is meant to unify audiences in peace and love, and that is the spirit of our show,” she said.