By Chris Elliott
Pink Floyd star Roger Waters – writer of the band’s famous album The Wall – has become patron of the Cambridge Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
The rock singer, who was brought up and educated in the city, has also backed efforts to impose sanctions against Israel.
Averil Parkinson, spokeswoman for the Cambridge campaign, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Roger has agreed to be our patron.
“He has over the years spoken out against the illegal Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land and more recently against the separation wall or barrier, echoing his song Another Brick In The Wall, as it has continued to grow and annexe more and more of the West Bank.”
She said the rock star supported a campaign of sanctions against Israel, including a cultural boycott, which has led to musicians including Carlos Santana, Sting and Bono refusing to play in Tel Aviv.
Mr Waters, who is currently on tour with a new production of the show The Wall, has denied that the show is anti-Semitic.
He said one of the songs from the album, Another Brick In The Wall Part 2, was banned by the South African government in 1980 as it was being used by black South African children to advocate equal education rights.
He said: “In 2005, Palestinian children participating in a West Bank festival used the song to protest against Israel’s wall around the West Bank, singing: ‘We don’t need no occupation! We don’t need no racist wall!’
“At the time, I hadn’t seen first hand what they were singing about.
“Then I visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw that day. The wall is an appalling edifice to behold.
“In so far as The Wall has a political message it is to seek to illuminate our condition, and find new ways to encourage peace and understanding, particularly in the Middle East.”
From www.cambridge-news.co.uk
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