Haaretz Podcast 'Israeli musicians must choose if they want to be boycotted at home or boycotted abroad'
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Aug 18, 2025 Shay Ringel, a culture reporter for Haaretz, dives into the challenges Israeli musicians face as they navigate artistic expression in a politically charged atmosphere. The podcast discusses a bold petition signed by 1,200 artists, urging soldiers to resist unlawful orders amid the Gaza conflict. Ringel highlights the generational divide, noting that younger artists largely abstain from the petition while older musicians confront severe backlash. He recounts a notable case of an artist retracting his signature to save a concert, illustrating the difficult balance between activism and career.
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Artists' Unusually Direct Petition
- The "Stop the Horror in Gaza" letter was signed by around 1,200 prominent Israeli artists and used unusually direct language about killings and expulsions in Gaza.
- It also urged people to refuse unlawful orders, marking a new, stronger public cultural stance during the war.
Breaking Historical Norms
- Historically artists in Israel largely waited until after wars to voice opposition and avoided criticizing soldiers during conflicts.
- This petition broke that pattern by publicly condemning conduct in the middle of an ongoing war.
Quick Cancellation And Retracted Signature
- Alon Olearchik had a JNF performance canceled after signing the petition and then retracted his signature within an hour.
- The JNF reinstated his concert soon after, showing rapid consequences and reversals for signatories.