The full extent of the intimidation facing actors and musicians who support Israel is laid bare in a new book by a veteran Hollywood insider.
Artists Under Fire, by former CBS and Warner Bros producer Lana Melman, presents the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign as an “illiberal ideology” driven by virulent antisemitism, “a virus that destroys societies and souls”.
Speaking to the JC from California, Ms Melman said: “The pressure is very intense. A lot of artists are simply frightened.”
She added: “As so often with antisemitism, BDS supporters see their actions as ‘punching up’, by supporting the little guy — the Palestinians — against the rich, powerful Jews. Now it’s also seeking to re-write history, by defining Jewish Israelis as white colonisers.
“This perspective has infected almost all of the liberal left, and that’s why it’s so dangerous. I hope my book is an opportunity to push back.”
In 2011 Ms Melman founded an organisation, Liberate Art Inc, which fights back against the BDS movement. She told the JC the counter-campaign has worked with agents and lawyers representing more than 1,000 artists targeted by anti-Israel activists, including musicians Alicia Keys, Cyndi Lauper and Pitbull.
In 2014, she organised a statement supporting Israel’s right to defend itself signed by 300 stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Seth Rogen, Kelsey Grammer and Sarah Silverman.
Writing in Artists Under Fire, she says: “Artists make soft targets. Statements and graphics associating the artist with racism, war and destruction are seen by tens or hundreds of thousands of people. The threat to the artist’s career is obvious. Who wants to attend the concert of a racist?”
Her book details a horrific litany of hate and even physical threats directed towards artists who will not submit to the demands of BDS. In 2008, Paul McCartney refused to cancel a concert in Tel Aviv.
Jihadist leader Omar Bakri Muhammad warned the Beatle: “If he values his life, Mr McCartney must not come to Israel. He will not be safe.” Muhammad was later jailed in Lebanon for building a training camp for the al-Nusra Front, the al-Qaeda branch in Syria.
Eric Burdon of the Animals cancelled a performance in Israel in 2013 after BDS campaigners raised a furore. His manager explained there were “threatening emails on a daily basis”. According to Burdon, the manager was “scared for my life”.
But Melman details how BDS is proving more persuasive for a younger generation, with no need for threats. Singer-songwriter Lorde had planned to perform in Israel in 2017, before an open letter went viral accusing her of “hypocrisy” because she would not say “enough to Israel’s crime against Palestinians”.
Lorde cancelled the gig and responded online, saying: “Noted! Been speaking with many people about this and considering all options. Thank u for educating me.”
The fate of artists who have the temerity to show sympathy for Israel was seen when Katy Perry tweeted as conflict escalated in 2011: “My prayers are for you guys tonight, Shalom!!” Adding the hashtag “prayforIsrael”.
As the book details, the US pop star then faced a torrent of abuse online. One response said: “I hope your private jet crash lands in Palestine so they can stamp on you like the whore you are.”
The BDS movement was founded in 2008. According to Ms Melman, it was the voluble support of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters that gave it momentum.
‘Artists Under Fire’ is published by Lioncrest and is available in hardback, paperback and as an e-book from Amazon.co.uk
