Pro-Palestinian group calls for cancellation of J-Lo show in Egypt over Israel performance

Activists accuse the American singer of supporting 'racist policies' after her performance in Tel Aviv

American Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on August 2, 2019. Israel OUT
 / AFP / OHAD ZWIGENBERG
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An Egyptian group supporting the Israeli boycott has called for the cancellation of American artist Jennifer Lopez’s coming concert in the country due to her recent performance in Tel Aviv.

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions group said on Wednesday that Ms Lopez, also known as J-Lo, "clearly shows support for the occupying state and its racist policies towards Palestinians".

The American artist is set to perform on Friday in the northern Egyptian coast town of El Alamein.

However, BDS sent a letter to Orsacom Development, which is organising the concert, and called for the show to be scrapped.

“This is a malicious attempt to normalise relations with the Zionist enemy and those involved with their crimes against humanity,” the group said in a statement.

Ms Lopez has faced backlash for her performance in Yarkon Park Tel Aviv from various activists that urged her to respect Palestinian human rights.

“The concert is set to take place after her previous performance in occupied Palestine. Despite various calls to boycott Israel and cancel the concert she insisted on carrying out her performance,” the group said.

The group labelled a photo that Ms Lopez posted on Instagram of herself, taken from what appeared to be the balcony of her hotel in the Israeli capital, as a “provocation”.

“She described the picture as ‘The mother land Israel’ in addition to posting pictures of her family in the occupied lands, this will not be accepted by the Egyptian public,” the group said.

There has been no response from Orsacom Development.

Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979, as part of which the Sinai Peninsula, which Israel took control of during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, was taken back.

Yet public opinion in Egypt remains firmly against Israel.

The BDS movement claims “that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity”.