News story

Minister defends Israeli artists' right to perform in the UK

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt spoke after protestors attempted to disrupt a performance by the Israeli dance company Batsheva at the Edinburgh Festival.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 31 August 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

“I strongly support the freedom of Batsheva to appear at the festival, and deeply regret the attempts to disrupt them. The UK absolutely opposes the targeting of institutions and individuals for no other reason than they are from Israel. It achieves nothing, is divisive and runs counter to the long history of cultural freedom in this country.”

Published 31 August 2012