Simon Cowell pulls out of Israeli X Factor over violence concerns

Simon Cowell has cancelled his scheduled appearance as a judge on the upcoming Israeli version of The X Factor after alleged concern regarding the violence in Gaza.

The 61-year-old music industry mogul was cited as having "legitimate concerns" about travelling to Israel, after the recent escalations in violence between occupied Palestine and Israeli forces, Jewish News reported.

Reshet, the show's production company, said that Cowell had pulled out 'for his own reasons' and added that he was 'bitterly disappointed' by his decision. 

Cowell has not publically commented on the issue.

"Simon won't be going to Israel after all. I know it has already been announced that he was one of the judges, but for a number of reasons he just can't be there in Israel to film the show now," a source said to The Daily Mail.

"I can barely wait to see what the Israelis have to offer," Cowell said when he signed on to appear on the show as a judge alongside 2018 Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai, and singers Aviv Geffen, Margalit Tzanani, Miri Mesika and Ran Danker.

This will be the fourth edition of The X Factor Israel, which was already postponed after the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic. 

Escalations between Gaza and Israel broke out after Palestinians were forcibly removed from their homes in Jerusalem and harassed by Israeli authorities at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.