Cat Stevens backs out of Israel peace concert

Islam denied the invitation had been rescinded and said he had already declined the appearance because of a scheduling conflict. Photo: REUTERS

By Carolynne Wheeler in Jerusalem 

The British singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, has backed out of plans for a concert in Tel Aviv amid reports that Israeli security services objected to him entering the country.

24 Oct 2008, Mr Islam was invited to headline an Oct 27 peace concert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Peres Centre for Peace, an organisation backed by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

But the Peres Centre has "re-evaluated" that invitation despite reportedly asking the 60-year-old singer to adapt his hit "Peace Train" to reflect the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the concert.

"After re-evaluating the situation Cat Stevens will not be arriving in Israel," Uri Savir, a former Israeli diplomat and negotiator who heads the Peres Centre, said in a prepared statement provided by a spokeswoman.

Mr Savir was earlier quoted as telling the Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Aharonot that when Mr Islam's passport details were submitted for a "conventional security check," it sparked a "huge row".

However in a statement made through a London-based representative, Mr Islam denied the invitation had been rescinded and said he had already declined the appearance because of a scheduling conflict.

"This is a storm in a jam jar, because in fact I had already put a cap on this matter. I'd given apologies to the Peres Centre some time ago, due to the date of the event coinciding with a scheduled trip to the United States.

"That's not to say that I didn't appreciate the invitation from the Centre, and I am of course supportive of initiatives for peace," he said in the emailed statement.

Mr Islam, who converted to Islam in 1977, was refused entry to Israel eight years ago, and in 2004 was stopped from entering the United States when his name appeared on a watch list. Israeli authorities accuse him of donating money to Hamas, the militant Islamic group now running the Gaza Strip classified a terrorist organisation by the United States and European Union, though Mr Islam has denied ever knowingly making a donation.

The Peres Centre is also sponsoring a high-profile conference including former World Bank President James Wolfensohn and FIFA President Sepp Blatter to mark its anniversary. The centre was founded by the 85-year-old president and former prime minister, who has received a Nobel Peace prize for his role in negotiating the Oslo peace accords.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/3255179/Cat-Stevens-backs-out-of-Israel-peace-concert.html