Live

Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Israel's ambassador seeks a meeting after Lorde cancels show

Israel's ambassador to New Zealand has invited singer Lorde for a sit-down after she cancelled her concert in Tel Aviv.

Lorde
Lorde Source: Facebook/lordemusic

Israel's ambassador to New Zealand has invited Lorde to meet him after the Kiwi singer cancelled her concert in Tel Aviv.

On Christmas Day, Lorde cancelled a concert scheduled for Israel in June after criticism from activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Her decision also came after an open letter written by two New Zealand fans on website the Spinoff argued the concert would show support for Israel's occupation of Palestine.

Israeli ambassador to New Zealand Itzhak Gerberg on Tuesday night extended an invitation to the 21-year-old musician on social media.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

In a follow-up statement on Wednesday, he said the musician had "succumbed to the supporters of a small fanatic group" that "spreads hatred and animosity" and that she had disappointed her fans in Israel.

"Your concert in Israel could have spread the message that solutions come from constructive engagement that leads to compromise and cooperation," Dr Gerberg said.

"Music should unite not divide and your performance in Israel could have contributed to the spirit of hope and peace in the Middle East."

The Jewish Council of New Zealand earlier said that, in succumbing to pressure to call off the concert, Lorde had made a political statement.

Spokeswoman Juliet Moses said the singer would perform in Russia on her Melodrama tour and that despite that country's human rights abuses no one called on her to cancel that show.

The Zionist Federation of New Zealand also said it was disappointed Lorde had caved into pressure from "those who wish to see the destruction of Israel".

"By singling out Israel amongst other nations whose human rights abuses make any that Israel supposedly commit seem a drop in the ocean, shows the double standards and discrimination towards the Jewish state of those in the BDS movement," the organisation said in a statement.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world