In case you were not aware (which means you have not been reading this website consistently), Aussie musician Nick Cave is one of those unafraid to show his support for Israelis and rejection of BDS, the latter which he has called “antisemitic at heart.” He is well and truly on Roger Water’s (s)hitlist, not that he cares at all.
Nick recently received a letter from a fan in Turkey, who expressed his disappointment that while Nick has “expressed clear and undivided solidarity with the Ukrainians”, he hasn’t “expressed such a support for the Palestinian people.”
Nick wouldn’t have any of it.
Dear Ahmet,
There is little I can disagree with in your letter, other than to say that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia is simply not the same thing as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine; one is a brutal unprovoked attack on one state by another, in the hope of revising the entire security structure of Europe, and the other is a deeply complex clash of two nations that is far from straightforward. What the two conflicts do share is the tragic fate of all innocents who must cower in bomb shelters in fear of their lives, and I sympathise deeply with all such communities wherever — and whoever — they are.
With respect, I do not wish to repeat my views on Israel/Palestine but with regards to showing my support to the Palestinian people, perhaps you should know that over the last twenty years I have taken part in several events to raise money for schools within their communities. But this is not the time for these debates, Ahmet. This is the time to unite in unequivocal support and love for the people of Ukraine.
Right now, a catastrophe is unfolding and I stand with all Ukrainians at this horrific moment in history. I would like nothing more than to play in Kyiv and I was very much looking forward to our show there. I also have some wonderful fans in Russia and I know, through these very Files, that many people there vehemently oppose the actions of Putin’s regime. If I could play for those people too, I would.
At this time let us just stand together with the people of Ukraine, and all those who cherish freedom and principles of national self-determination and want to live in peace and security with their neighbours.
Love, Nick
I know some of you will nitpick and object to Nick’s use of word ‘Palestine’, but I’ll definitely take his clear rejection of any parallels between the two situations.
Hat tip: Jono
