Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Beatles Sir Paul McCartney Defies Islamic Suicide Bombers In Israel
Israel News Agency / Google News ^ | September 14, 2008 | Joel Leyden

Posted on 09/14/2008 6:14:47 AM PDT by IsraelBeach

Beatles Sir Paul McCartney Defies Islamic Suicide Bombers In Israel

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem, Israel --- September 14, 2008 ..... In what is truly becoming a Magical Mystery Tour, former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney has been threatened with death by Islamic terrorists if he comes to Israel for a concert.

Dennis Rice, a freelance journalist and reporter for the Sunday Express has been in contact with the Israel News Agency and other Israel news and governmental organizations seeking for and finding the answer to "Has McCartney been threatened if he plays in Israel?"

Rice's investigative journalism ran deep as he found that Islamic terrorist Omar Bakri claiming the former Beatle’s decision to take part in Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations had made him an enemy of all Muslims.

Sources close to McCartney said Sir Paul was shocked but refused to be intimidated.

The celebrated rock star will arrive in Israel as part of a world tour and will give a single concert at Tel Aviv's Park Hayarkon on September 25.

In an interview with Israel media yesterday McCartney told Israel TV Channel 2: “I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come here. I refused. I do what I think and I have many friends who support Israel.”

Israel security analysts believe that the threats on McCartney's life are real, but pose no danger to McCartney while he is in Israel.

"McCartney will enjoy the same extensive security protection as the Israel Prime Minister, President and other heads of state who visit Israel," the analyst said. "Israel is respected for having the world's best security organizations, as both their real time intelligence and field activities are at the highest alert level 24 hours a day. We don't train, we are acting on and neutralizing terrorists threats every hour. What McCartney needs to be concerned about is his security upon leaving Israel. His rides on buses and in subways will now need to have increased security personnel in place. Islamic terrorists are not lone reporters and photographers who stalk, they also act on intelligence gathered from their own networks."

The security analyst states that McCartney is no different than any other Christian or Jew in the free world.

"McCartney is considered an infidel, as all non-Muslims are. As such the penalty is death. Those who attacked the World Trade Center seven years ago in 9/11 were attacking "infidels" in mass and did not even care to consider how many peaceful Muslims would be murdered as they were working with the infidels. What separates McCartney now from the common man, is that he has taken his creative genius one step beyond music. By coming to Israel, Sir Paul McCartney has become an icon for democracy, freedom, peace and liberty. Whatever accomplishments McCartney may have achieved as a Beatle are now small compared to risking his life for the very basic principles of democracy and free speech. The man is truly a hero."

Syria born Bakri, 48, stated: “I heard today that the pop star Paul McCartney is playing as a part of the celebrations.

“Instead of supporting the people of Palestine in their suffering, McCartney is celebrating the atrocities of the occupiers. The one who is under occupation is supposed to be getting the help. And so I believe for Paul McCartney, what he is doing really is creating more enemies than friends.” Bakri stated: “Our enemy’s friend is our enemy. Thus Paul McCartney is the enemy of every Muslim. We have what we call ‘sacrifice’ operatives who will not stand by while he joins in a celebration of their oppression. If he values his life Mr McCartney must not come to Israel. He will not be safe there. The sacrifice operatives will be waiting for him.”

A spokesman for Sir Paul declined to comment on the threat, saying: “Paul’s Friendship First concert is about his music. Paul’s is a message of peace.”

But not all Muslims want death for McCartney.

Omar Barghouti, of The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, described the threat as “deplorable”.

In an interview on Israel TV Channel Two, Sir Paul McCartney described his experience as a Beatle and his feelings about the upcoming Friendship First tour to Israel.

When asked if he knew why the Beatles were not allowed to come to Israel the first time back in 1965 and that the Beatles were seen by the Israel government as a bad influence on our youth, McCartney responded: "no, I didn't know that (laughter)... and the only other place we were forbidden to perform was Russia! But I'm coming now."

Last night, McCartney came close to playing in Russia as he performed his first concert in the Ukraine, playing to tens of thousands in the capital Kiev.

Israel Channel Two asked how do you choose what music to perform? Are you going to play a lot of Beatles songs in Israel? "Well, I have a great band; what we do is write down all the tunes we want to perform - some Beatles songs, some Wings songs, some other songs - things we think the audience wants to hear, and I like to throw in a few different songs, something unusual, to give the set an edge," said McCartney. "Then, we play through everything and eliminate those songs we just don't play well or don't seem to fit. It's really that simple."

McCartney was asked why did the Beatles break up when they did? "Well, there were many reasons really," McCartney said. "We were having internal business problems. We brought in a business manager from New York; I didn't like what he wanted to do, and we found ourselves arguing within the group. It was rather like a bad marriage. So, we decided that after all, we had really come full circle - in fact, the last album cover was shot in the same place as the first, so we really had come full circle - and that this was a good time to split up. Once we decided, we all relaxed and everything was then better between us."

When asked that after all these years, songs, concerts aren't you tired of it? Don't get you bored?

McCartney responded with a smile: "No, this is what I love; I love writing music; I love bringing people together; I love performing; this is my passion; I love to get the feedback from the audience."

The Israel audience might be very well deterred by the expensive ticket prices, which range from over a hundred dollars to sit on the grass to 400 USD for VIP up close tickets. The average wage in Israel is 1,500 USD per month, placing these McCartney tickets way out of reach for the ordinary Israeli. But now that McCartney is risking his life to play in Israel, many Israelis may sacrifice a few meals just to hear a man as fearless as they are.

All the same Tel Aviv's Park Hayarkon has a capacity for a crowd of 70,000 people and ticket sales may have reached their saturation point for the elite at about 25,000 people. As witnessed in a Web 2.0 Facebook group entitled Israel Welcomes Beatles Sir James Paul McCartney To Tel Aviv many Israelis are now begging McCartney's manager Barry Marshall and Israel show promoter Dudu Zerzevsky to reduce the cost of the concert tickets.

The Paul McCartney show is expected to cost upward of $8 million to produce and will require a 100-person production team, extensive security, an extra-large stage, an expansive sound system, and two vegetarian kitchens at the show's location.

The producers of the single appearance by Paul McCartney in Israel expect to break even with a take of 10 million NIS on the event. These numbers kick in before any sponsorships take place. The businessman backing the event, Yakir Sha'ashua believes it will attract a capacity crowd to Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park, which can accommodate up to 70,000 people.

The Israel business newspaper Globes states that the cost of bringing Beatle Paul McCartney to Israel will reach over NIS 30 million, half of which will go to McCartney and his promoters, while the other half will cover production costs. Price now stand at NIS 1,500 for a front row ticket and NIS 500 for just a seat on grass in the park. The promoters will have to sell 50,000 tickets only to cover the cost. This is the initial quantity which will go on sale at the Leean ticket offices.

Israel Channel Two asked Sir Paul that now that you are coming to play in Israel, there are those who are protesting your appearance here. What do you say about that?

"You know, finally, you just have to listen to your heart and do what you think is right," said McCartney." "I'm coming to play music and to bring people together, at least that's my intention. I just want to make people happy."

Will the Islamic threats on McCartney's life and those going to the concert deter Israelis from enjoying his music?

Israelis live with terror threats every day. We serve in the Israel Defense Forces. We volunteer for police duty. We have security guards checking bags and profiling people at the entrances of our shopping centers, restaurants and inside our buses. If anything will keep an Israeli away it will be the expensive price ticket for the concert.

Sir Paul McCartney, who enjoys meeting ordinary people, riding on buses and tubes with them, should give the order to reduce the ticket price. Sir Paul and his good friends John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr have now transcended their legends as music's greatest, most creative producers.

Paul McCartney now stands tall as a respected humanitarian representing peace and friendship. One should be not be surprised if members of the Palestinian Authority who have also placed their lives at risk confronting Iran backed Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah will be attending the concert.

Sir Paul, who has wealth and comfort, should now truly place his "Pipes of Peace" music before entrance sales and garner the largest possible physical audience he can gather. McCartney's audience on September 25 will not be limited to just those in Israel, but to every peace seeking activist and supporters of democracy and free speech around the world.

If Sir Paul wants to get his message of "Peace In The Neighbourhood" and "Helping each other out" to the masses he needs to sit next to more ordinary people. To both Israelis who have kept an open door and Palestinians who have been brainwashed by incitement and hate. In doing so, McCartney could reinforce and leap well beyond the historic "Imagine" peace lyrics of John Lennon.

And brave Paul has nothing to fear.
The Mossad, the Shabak and MI5 are watching his back.

The above news content was edited and SEO optimized in Israel for the Internet by the Leyden Communications Group.


TOPICS: Israel
KEYWORDS: beatles; israel; sirpaulmccartney; terrorism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

1 posted on 09/14/2008 6:14:50 AM PDT by IsraelBeach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Whoa! “Hey Jude” probably rubs them the wrong way even though it’s supposed to be about Julian! Hey, Palestine... It’s not all about you!


2 posted on 09/14/2008 6:19:30 AM PDT by equaviator ("There's a (datum) plane on the horizon coming in...see it?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Hands off the Beatles Islamojerks.


3 posted on 09/14/2008 6:21:45 AM PDT by WorkerbeeCitizen (An inadequately policed Conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Is the 0bama campaign team in charge of the rad islams?

Wow that’s close to...

Are the rad islams in charge of the 0bama campaign team?

lol


4 posted on 09/14/2008 6:27:52 AM PDT by Principled (Vaporize the "Divide and Conquer" taxes - Have everyone pay the same marginal rate!. NRST!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Principled

lol :)


5 posted on 09/14/2008 6:31:56 AM PDT by MeekMom (Come on Cubbies!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Good for him.


6 posted on 09/14/2008 6:32:49 AM PDT by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Paul Mc Cartney's New girlfriend and she has her own money.

7 posted on 09/14/2008 6:43:46 AM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach
"...I do what I think and I have many friends who support Israel..."

Hmmmm..... I like what he's doing and all, but that does seem like a pretty lukewarm stance on supporting Israel. Kind of condescending too (i.e. "I have many insert minority here friends")
8 posted on 09/14/2008 6:44:49 AM PDT by conservativeharleyguy (Technically, we are all Republicans!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WorkerbeeCitizen

Isn’t Sir Paul a member of PETA?


9 posted on 09/14/2008 6:53:17 AM PDT by sinsofsolarempirefan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sinsofsolarempirefan

I dunno - Islam don’t care anyway.


10 posted on 09/14/2008 6:56:45 AM PDT by WorkerbeeCitizen (An inadequately policed Conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Yeah...kill a Beatle...lmao...that will have people rushing to your cause there Islamoscum.


11 posted on 09/14/2008 6:57:56 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache (No Obama, No Way, No How)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lil'freeper

Ping


12 posted on 09/14/2008 7:00:24 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper (Let's Roll!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

When the U.S. went into Afganistan the press reported that when Sir Paul was interviewed about his feelings on this war his response was that the U.S. was within their rights to do exactly that after being attacked. I’m sure the ninny press expected that Paul would take the “Give Peace A Chance” approach like many of our Hollywood lefties. I’ve respected Sir Paul even more since that statement.


13 posted on 09/14/2008 7:09:58 AM PDT by onevoter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

Was there not some controversy about performance of ‘Beatles’ music in Israel for many years?


14 posted on 09/14/2008 7:18:01 AM PDT by Natchez Hawk (I don't like Ike)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: onevoter

>>the U.S. was within their rights to do exactly that after being attacked.

Oldies station in Boston plays 5 Beatles or solo Beatles songs at 10 pm every weeknight. On 9/11 they had stuff like
George’s “Isn’t That A Pity”, John’s “Imagine”, and one song by the member who was actually in NYC the day of the attacks:

Freedom
Talkin’ bout freedom
I will fight for the right
To live in freedom


15 posted on 09/14/2008 7:18:27 AM PDT by raccoonradio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

The former Beatle and purveyor of “bubble gum music” apparently has a conservative bone somewhere in his body — who knew?


16 posted on 09/14/2008 7:20:37 AM PDT by webschooner (McWhatshisname/Palin 2008 !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

That’s the spirit! Good for you, Paul McCartney!


17 posted on 09/14/2008 7:26:20 AM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Principled

We know who Obama says HE’D stand with. Maybe he can offer to give one of his “healing speeches” that seem to cause racism and violence to flare up wherever he goes...


18 posted on 09/14/2008 7:31:44 AM PDT by cake_crumb (Terrorist organizations worldwide endorse Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cake_crumb

Paul McCartney put that concert for NY together and got the WHO to reunite for those firman/police/port authority people....I’ll never forget him for what he did....a true patriot who isn’t even an American (although I think we adopted him).


19 posted on 09/14/2008 7:32:50 AM PDT by Blue Turtle (I)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: IsraelBeach

btt


20 posted on 09/14/2008 7:33:22 AM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson