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Lauryn Hill Cancels Israel Show; Is Accused of Giving in to 'Jew-Haters'

Lauryn Hill Cancels Israel Show; Is Accused of Giving in to 'Jew-Haters'
(Kena Betancur/Getty Images, file)

By    |   Wednesday, 06 May 2015 09:03 AM EDT

Lauryn Hill, the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, has canceled her upcoming Thursday concert in Israel, sparking political controversy and backlash from her fans.

"When deciding to play the region, my intention was to perform in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah. Setting up a performance in the Palestinian Territory, at the same time as our show in Israel, proved to be a challenge," she explained on her official Facebook page on Monday.

"It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans. For this reason, we have decided to cancel the upcoming performance in Israel, and seek a different strategy to bring my music to ALL of my fans in the region."

Following her announcement, The Associated Press added Hill to its list of artists who refuse to perform in Israel, USA Today confirmed.

According to The New York Times, Jewish fans widely lamented Hill's decision, and said she succumbed to the anti-Israel B.D.S. movement, which stands for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions.

Ahead of her concert, the BDS movement called on Hill to cancel her show in Tel Aviv. They gathered more than 11,000 signatures on a petition, and targeted Hill and her fans on Twitter with the hashtag #KillingMeSoftly, a reference to Hill's cover of the original Roberta Flack hit "Killing Me Softly with His Song."

The Jerusalem Post noted that many comments on Hill's Facebook post accused her of "surrendering to pro-Palestinian terrorists" and "Jew-haters."

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TheWire
Lauryn Hill, the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, has canceled her upcoming Thursday concert in Israel, sparking political controversy and backlash from her fans.
lauryn hill, cancels, israel, concert, controversy
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2015-03-06
Wednesday, 06 May 2015 09:03 AM
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