- Title: ISRAEL: Roger Waters performs in an 'Oasis of Peace' village in Israel
- Date: 29th June 2006
- Summary: NEVE SHALOM / WAHAT AL-SALAM VILLAGE, ISRAEL (REUTERS) PEOPLE SITTING ON GROUND PAN TO STAGE WHERE ROGER WATERS WILL PERFORM PINK FLOYD FLAG BEING WAVED IN CROWD CONCERT GROUND REFLECTED IN WOMAN'S SUNGLASSES THE STAGE JEWISH RELIGIOUS MAN AT GROUNDS PEACE FLAG BEING WAVED IN AUDIENCE
- Embargoed: 14th July 2006 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVACIMI8UMQT6ZAE5VL4NI9CSBEC
- Story Text: Pink Floyd's frontman Roger Waters chose to have his solo concert in Israel on Thursday (June 22) at a village called 'Oasis of Peace', a mixed Arab-Jewish community living side by side.
The concert was originally planned for a Tel Aviv stadium but Waters changed the location to the peace village near Jerusalem, following criticism by fans in Britain and in the Palestinian territories.
When news came about Waters' expected performance in Israel, a group of Palestinian artists from the West Bank sent a letter to the internationally renowned rock star, urging him to cancel his planned performance in Israel.
The appeal, sent in March by a Union of Palestinian Artists, said: "How can the artist whose name around the world was for many years associated with breaking walls of injustice be in any way complicit with the monstrosity of Israel's wall, declared illegal by the International Court of Justice at the Hague?"
Waters has recently expressed strong opposition to Israel's separation barrier.
He is the writer of the famous song 'Another Brick in the Wall', which protests all walls of oppression and subjugation and calls to bring all walls down.
Upon his arrival to the region, Waters on Wednesday (June 21) toured a segment of the barrier separating Israel and the West Bank at the town of Bethlehem.
Waters, who inspired the Pink Floyd's iconic album 'The Wall', scrawled 'Tear Down the Wall' on the concrete panels of Israel's barrier.
In his reply to the Palestinian protesters, Waters wrote that the decision to move the concert to a more ethnically diverse village was made 'as a gesture of solidarity with the voices of reason of Israelis and Palestinians seeking a non-violent route for a just peace'.
Neve Shalom / Wahat al-Salam village inhabits 220 people, 50 Jewish and Palestinian Arabs (holding Israeli citizenship) families. The residents adhere the coexistence of different faiths and races.
The show's venue, at the foot of the village, was set up on a chickpea field. Organisers had to construct the performance grounds from scratch to allow some 50,000 people to attend.
Waters kicked off his three-hour-long show with 'In The Flash', from 'The Wall' album.
Other pieces performed included 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun', 'Wish You Were Here', 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond', 'Have A Cigar' and 'Leaving Beirut'.
Images of Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush were shown on a video screen on stage while Waters performed 'The Fletcher Memorial Home'.
The second part of the show included the whole 'Dark Side of the Moon'.
After playing 'Another Brick in the Wall', Waters addressed the cheering crowds, telling them: "We and the rest of the world need this generation of Israelis to tear down the walls".
Israel has built almost half the planned barrier, which has the stated aim of keeping suicide bombers out of its cities.
Condemned by Palestinians as a land grab, the barrier has been branded illegal by the World Court because it cuts through occupied territory. Israel is rerouting some sections after a Supreme Court order to lessen Palestinian hardship.
In 1990, Waters performed "The Wall" along the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Germany to celebrate reunification.
He told reporters that he hoped Israel's barrier would also be brought down one day.
"It may be a lot harder to get this one down, but eventually it must happen," Waters said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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