Cancelled Israel Lorde gig sparks anti-boycott lawsuit

An Israeli advocacy group has launched a lawsuit against two New Zealanders for allegedly convincing pop singer Lorde to cancel a concert in Israel.

It is thought to be the first case filed under a 2011 Israeli law allowing civil lawsuits against anyone calling for a boycott of the country. Critics say the law stifles expression.

The two defendants wrote an open letter to Lorde last month urging their fellow New Zealanders to "take a stand" and "join the artistic boycott of Israel."


Justine Sachs and Nadia Abu-Shanab argued that Lorde's concert, which was to be held in Tel Aviv in June, would show support for Israel's occupation since the 1967 Middle East war of the West Bank and East Jerusalem - land the Palestinians claim for a future state.

"We're two young women based in Aotearoa, one Jewish, one Palestinian... We feel strongly about this," they wrote, using the Maori name for New Zealand.

Lorde responded by saying she was considering her options. A few days later she cancelled the concert.