Lorde Cancels Tel Aviv Show Amid Criticism of Israel's Treatment of the Palestinians

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lorde has canceled her upcoming June concert in Tel Aviv, Israeli media has reported.

The decision comes days after the 21-year-old New Zealander was called on by two of her compatriots to cancel the show in protest of the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank as part of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

On Sunday, Israeli news site YNET reported that the local organizers in charge of putting on the show announced the cancellation in a statement.

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"We regret to announce the cancellation of the Lorde concert in Israel planned for June. The tickets already bought will be reimbursed within 14 business days. As to the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the show, Lorde is expected to publish a statement via Twitter soon," the organizers told YNET's Ami Friedman.

Lorde performs onstage during the 2017 Governors Ball Music Festival - Day 1 at Randall's Island on June 2, 2017 in New York City. Theo Wargo/Getty Images

The cancellation comes days after two prominent activists in New Zealand called on Lorde to forego playing in Israel as a protest against the country's expansionist policies in the West Bank.

The letter, written by Nadia Abu-Shanab, who has Palestinian roots, and Justine Sachs, who's Jewish, reads:

Today, millions of people stand opposed to the Israeli government's policies of oppression, ethnic cleansing, human rights violations, occupation, and apartheid. As part of this struggle, we believe that an economic, intellectual and artistic boycott is an effective way of speaking out against these crimes.

The activists go on to argue that Lorde would essentially be endorsing the Israeli government by performing in Tel Aviv in June.

Playing in Tel Aviv will be seen as giving support to the policies of the Israeli government, even if you make no comment on the political situation. Such an effect cannot be undone by even the best intention and the best music.

The "Royals" singer responded on Twitter on Thursday,  saying their letter was "noted" and that she was "considering all options."

Dozens of internationally-recognized artists have been pressured by the BDS movement to cancel their shows Israel in recent years.

Some of the artists who have heeded to the movement's demands include Brian Eno and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, writers Arundhati Roy and Eduardo Galeano and film-maker Ken Loach, as reported by Hareetz.

Many artists have also foregone the warnings and played their scheduled shows in Israels anyway, including Elton John, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and most recently, Radiohead and Nick Cave, both of whom issued blistering rebuttals to their pro-boycott peers.

Radiohead emphasized the point by treating Tel Aviv to its longest set in 10 years, to almost 50,000 people. 

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