BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Paul McCartney said Wednesday he’s carrying a message of peace for Israel and the Palestinians, rejecting criticism of his planned concert today in Tel Aviv.
McCartney toured the West Bank town of Bethlehem, visiting the Church of the Nativity. After posing for pictures with fans, McCartney, 66, was asked to respond to criticism that his visit to Israel supports its occupation of the West Bank.
He said his visit to the West Bank showed he was not playing favorites. “I’m here to highlight the situation and to say that what we need is peace in this region, a two-state solution,” he said, referring to Israel and a Palestinian state. Four decades ago, the Israeli government banned a planned concert by the Beatles, ruling that the rock group’s performance could corrupt the morals of Israel’s youth. The Associated Press
