A Facebook campaign to convince pop star Shakira to skip an Israeli conference received more than 1,800 likes, but Shakira visited Israel anyway.
The Colombian singer, whose father is Lebanese, took part June 21 in the third annual Israeli President’s Conference, appearing as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
Shakira arrived in Israel on June 20 and visited the Western Wall. It was her first trip to the Jewish state.
The Facebook page, called “Shakira: Say NO to Apartheid and YES to Freedom for Palestine,” was established to endorse an open letter to the singer calling on her to boycott Israel. Written by members of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, the letter was signed by people with Hebrew- and Arabic-sounding names.
“If you attend the Presidential Conference, you will accept that a Palestinian fan of your work living under Israeli occupation will not be allowed by law — and denied by an illegal wall built on annexed private Palestinian land, fences and military checkpoints — the chance to attend it,” the letter said.
In a press conference, Shakira and Israeli President Shimon Peres emphasized the role of education in fostering understanding between different people. — jta