Israel planning to apologize to ex-Beatles for '65 concert

nico · Post by **nico** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:48 pm

Israel said planning to apologize to ex-Beatles for '65 concert ban

By Haaretz Service and News Agencies

Tags: Beatles, Ringo Starr

More than four decades after Israeli officials banned the Beatles from appearing at a scheduled 1965 concert, Israel is to extend the band an official apology on Monday, and invite surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to take part in celebrations of the nation's 60th anniversary this year, Army Radio reported.

It said Israeli Ambassador to Britain Ron Prosor would present the apology to slain Beatle John Lennon's sister Julia Bairdat at the Beatles museum in their hometown of Liverpool.

Letters of apology are to be sent to McCartney and Starr as well as relatives of late band members John Lennon and George Harrison, it said.
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The Beatles had been booked to appear in Israel, but government
officials refused to grant the necessary permits, citing concerns that the tousled-haired British band and its strident, amplified music could corrupt the morals of Israeli youth.

The never-used tickets for the concert have long been a prized souvenir among Israeli fans of the group.

In Jerusalem, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel confirmed that Prosor
would meet Baird and invite her to Israel for the gala marking Israel's
founding in May, 1948. But he said he had no knowledge of any letter of apology or of invitations to Paul and Ringo to perform.

I hope they don't take the offer to visit Israel and celebrate 60 years of oppression

Post by **faceless** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:10 pm

I'm sure there's no way John Lennon would accept it if he was alive and I doubt George Harrison would either.

nico · Post by **nico** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:20 pm

What about Sir Paul?
GG should dicourage him if it turns out that he would go.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:40 pm

Yep .. if either Paul or Ringo accept, it would be a PR disaster for them in most of their fans' eyes (the majority of whom are not neo-cons who would favour the visit).

Post by **faceless** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:40 pm

I reckon McCartney will go, I'm not so sure about Ringo though.

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:53 pm

faceless wrote:I reckon McCartney will go, I'm not so sure about Ringo though.

I was resisting saying that once someone accepts an "honours", they tend to change and begin to love the establishment.

Well, after faceless' comment, I can resist no more.

major.tom · Post by **major.tom** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:59 am

I too hope they don't accept, but won't make any predictions. It's pretty hard to see this an occasion worth celebrating.