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Is Thom Yorke a Zionist? Does He Support Israel?

blurred-reality.com – Many people believe Thom Yorke is a Zionist and supports Israel as he previously refused to cancel the show in Tel Aviv. He expressed that he got offended after many prominent figures asked the band to cancel the show. 

Thom Yorke (full name: Thomas Edward Yorke) is an English musician and the lead vocalist for the alternative rock band Radiohead. He is widely praised for his unusual voice, and he frequently experiments with complicated and unconventional musical forms.

He co-founded Radiohead with classmates in 1985. The band achieved global popularity and critical acclaim with their third album, OK Computer (1997), which is widely regarded as one of the best albums in the history of alternative rock.

On the other hand, Thom Yorke has recently been making headlines as people have been labeling him a Zionist. They believe he supports Israel in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Well, let’s discuss it in detail.

Previously, we touched on the Zionist connections of Kim Chi and Timothee Chalamet.

Thom Yorke Accused of Being a Zionist and Supporting Israel for Refusing to Cancel the Show in Israel in 2017!

Even though Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) has not given any statement regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict since the war broke out in October 2023, Thom Yorke has been labeled a Zionist for his previous comments. They claim he supports Israel over Palestine.

Well, everything started after Radiohead announced that they would perform in Israel in 2017. Following their announcement, over 50 prominent figures signed a petition urging the band to cancel the show. The letter said,

In asking you not to perform in Israel, Palestinians have appealed to you to take one small step to help pressure Israel to end its violation of basic rights and international law…

Thom Yorke has never accepted or denied being a Zionist. blurred-reality.comThom Yorke has never accepted or denied being a Zionist.
Image Source: NME

Offended by the letter, Thom Yorke spoke to Rolling Stone about how felt. He explained,

The kind of dialogue that they want to engage in is one that’s black or white. I have a problem with that. It’s deeply distressing that they choose to, rather than engage with us personally, throw * at us in public. It’s deeply disrespectful to assume that we’re either being misinformed or that we’re so retarded we can’t make these decisions ourselves. I thought it was patronizing in the extreme. It’s offensive.

Yorke also addressed the fact that the band’s lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood, is married to Sharona Katan, an Arab Jew and an Israeli artist.

Despite all the backlashes from activists and campaigners who claimed the show was an insult to Palestinians facing tyranny in the country, The sold-out performance at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv went on as planned. As a result, many people accuse of him being a Zionist.

Reddit Debates on If Thom Yorke Is a Zionist!

Ever since Thom Yorke refused to cancel his performance in Israel in 2017, he has been labeled a Zionist by many people. Meanwhile, a lot of people believe that he never showed his support for Israel in the Israel-Palestine controversy and performed in Tel Aviv regardless of the history between the two countries. Taking to a Reddit discussion, one person wrote,

That’s a 7 year old tweet and I wouldn’t call it a reliable source. Years ago Thom had addressed why he played in Israel and it’s not because he is a Zionist. Quit trying to stir sh*t up

Similarly, another wrote,

Posting one-sided 7 year old bullsh*t for engagement. It’s all there online if you care to do a quick google search. If you don’t like him after that then fine that’s absolutely your own business. But this whole instant-backlash thing without proper context rubs me the wrong way. Go find someone who’s been absolutely perfect in every moment. He was frustrated that they were interrupting the show.

Some Reddit users believe Thom Yorke supports Israel. blurred-reality.comSome Reddit users believe Thom Yorke supports Israel.
Image Source: Rex

Meanwhile, one user believes he is a Zionist but does not show support for Israel for the given reason:

The fact is that it’s impossible to know what his true opinion on the matter is, but for a man that has been historically politically outspoken and never shied away from speaking out, it is very suspicious that the most noteworthy comment he’s made on the genocide in Palestine is basically that he disagrees with the BDS movement. He has never made any statement supportive of the Palestinian people — at most saying something vaguely critical of Netanyahu (feel free to correct me); which is frankly not much of a show of solidarity.

anup pandey

Anup Pandey is the Founder and CTO of Selectiveyes Group Private Limited, leveraging his expertise in SEO, WordPress, and Python to drive innovation. An entrepreneur at heart, he thrives on solving challenges and seizing opportunities. In his spare time, Anup explores his passion for cinema, sharing insights on the latest trends and developments. Follow his journey for expert commentary and captivating storytelling.

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Carisa Kissane

Update: 2024-05-17