Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood calls backlash over Israel show amid Gaza war ‘unprogressive’ | Jonny Greenwood

Radiohead Johnny Greenwood defended his ongoing collaboration with Israeli artist Dudu Tassa amid criticism from pro-Palestinian activists, calling the backlash “non-progressive” and “silencing”.

Greenwood, a composer and musician who also plays in Radiohead’s spin-off band The Smile, has been playing with Tassa since 2008. Last year, Greenwood and Tassa released a joint album titled Jarak Qaribaka compilation of Arabic love songs featuring artists from across the Middle East.

The pair performed a live show in Tel Aviv on May 26, a day after Greenwood took part in protests calling for the release of hostages in Gaza and new elections in Israel. according to the Jerusalem Post.

Soon after the show, the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement issued a statement accusing Greenwood of “artwashing genocide.”

“Palestinians unequivocally condemn Johnny Greenwood’s shameful whitewashing of Israel’s genocide,” the statement said. “We call for peaceful, creative pressure on his group Radiohead convincingly distance himself from this flagrant complicity in the crime of crimes or face massive action.”

On Tuesday, Greenwood responded with a statement of his own, posted on his social media accounts.

“I think an artistic project that combines Arab and Jewish musicians is worthwhile,” he wrote. “And one that reminds everyone that Jewish cultural roots in countries like Iran and Yemen go back thousands of years is also important.”

Greenwood lamented what he saw as “the silencing of this—or any—artistic effort made by Israeli Jews” by “those who are trying to shut us down or who are now trying to ascribe a sinister ulterior motive to the existence of the group’.

“No art is as ‘important’ as stopping all the death and suffering around us,” he said. “How could it be? But doing nothing seems like a worse option. And silencing Israeli artists because they were born Jewish in Israel doesn’t seem like a way to bring about an understanding between the two sides of this apparently endless conflict. “

Greenwood is married to Israeli visual artist Sharona Kattan, who shares her support for Israel’s military campaign. The couple’s nephew was killed this year while serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

Radiohead has a long history with Israel. Their megahit Creep first found success on Israeli radio after initially failing to break through elsewhere, and the band continued to play in the country throughout their career, despite protests from fans and activists.

Following widespread criticism of their 2017 show in Israel, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke said the band does not stand with the BDS movement, although he later clarified that “playing in a country is not the same as supporting its government”.