J-Lo lambasted for 'endorsing apartheid' over controversial Israel concert

J-Lo lambasted for 'endorsing apartheid' over controversial Israel concert
Jennifer Lopez, a Puerto Rican-American singer, who referred to Israel as her 'motherland', received backlash after performing in controversial Tel Aviv concert.
2 min read
04 August, 2019
Jennifer Lopez referred to Israel as her 'motherland' [Getty]
Pop star Jennifer Lopez, known as J-Lo, has been slammed for playing in Israel, despite strong calls to boycott the controversial Tel Aviv concert.

Uploading photos and videos of her performance, J-Lo was faced with a backlash from rights activists, urging her to respect Palestinian human rights.

She performed in Israel days after celebrating her birthday as a part of her "It's My Party" tour.

In a video snippet she uploaded on her Twitter account, she praised the "amazing energy" in the Tel Aviv concert, outraging activists who rushed to slam her on social media platforms.

"@JLo In a statement for ABC News, you called for the people of Puerto Rico to be 'treated equally', but Palestinians are subjected to over 65 laws denying them basic equality and civil and human rights. You are supporting the Crime of Israel", one activist tweeted.

J-lo was joined by a 100-person entourage "including dancers, instrumentalists, and light and sound technicians bearing 45 tons of equipment", The Times of Israel reported.

Upon arriving, the Puerto Rican-American singer referred to Israel as the motherland, to which many hit back at her for doing so.

"I never liked @JLo  music, style, nothing. But now I really dislike her. Saw I post she was in #Israel calling it the "motherland" lol....is she Palestinian? I thought she was proud of being Puerto Rican from the Bronx," said one user on twitter.

Palestinians use their Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement to raise awareness for the crimes happening against them.

The non-violent BDS movement says it is inspired by the campaign that targeted South Africa's apartheid regime and is seeking put an end to Israel's brutal occupation of the West Bank.

Israel sees the movement as a strategic threat and accuses it of anti-Semitism – a claim activists firmly deny, calling it an attempt to discredit them.

But BDS, which adheres to peaceful resistance, aims to pressure Israel to adhere to international law and human rights by lobbying various states, institutions and personas to understand its oppression of Palestinians and take action as a result.

The peaceful movement operates by pressuring corporations, artists and academic institutions to sever ties with Israel with supporters saying activities are aimed at promoting a Palestinian statehood.

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