The comments were written in a letter to Brian Eno, where Cave defends his decision to play concerts in Tel Aviv.
Nick Cave has publicly shared a letter to Brian Eno, reiterating his opposition to the Israel cultural boycott. The letter comes a year after Cave performed in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, a decision which was met by backlash from fellow musicians including Eno, Thurston Moore and Roger Waters.
The letter was shared as part of Cave’s The Red Hand Files Q&A series. He states: “I do not support the current government in Israel, yet do not accept that my decision to play in the country is any kind of tacit support for that government’s politics. Nor do I condone the atrocities that you have described; nor am I ignorant of them.”
Later, he directly address the cultural boycott of Israel, writing, “I do not support the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions movement, as you know. I think the cultural boycott of Israel is cowardly and shameful.”
Elsewhere in the letter, he highlights his participation in fundraising for the Palestinian cause, explaining; “I have done a considerable amount of work for Palestine through the Hoping Foundation, raising personally around £150,000 for the children of Palestine, so in a sense, I have already played the other’s side.”
Cave has also expressed his sentiments towards the cultural boycott during a press conference, stating, “It suddenly became very important to make a stand against these people who are trying to shut down musicians, to bully musicians, to censor musicians and to silence musicians.”
Read the full letter here.