Elvis Costello cancels Israel shows in protest

Elvis Costello has cancelled his scheduled performances in Israel in protest of Israel's treatment of Palestine.

He says his decision is "a matter of instinct and conscience".

"I must believe that the audience for the coming concerts would have contained many people who question the policies of their government on settlement and deplore conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security," he said in a statement on his website.

"I am also keenly aware of the sensitivity of these themes in the wake of so many despicable acts of violence perpetrated in the name of liberation."

Other artists have refused to play in Israel, including Santana and political poet/musician Gil Scott Heron.

If you had tickets for his shows scheduled for June 30 or July 1, you'd best make other plans.

Here is a clip of Elvis singing a personal favourite, 'What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?':



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