Pink Floyd star Roger Waters causes outrage as he compares Israeli government to Nazis in magazine interview

  • Bassist, 70, said treatment of Palestinians is same as the oppression of Jews during World War Two adding that they are treated as 'sub-human'
  • Refuses to play in Israel as he 'wouldn't play in occupied France either'
  • Rabbi blasted 'antisemitic diatribe' as one of worst attacks ever on Jews

By Mia De Graaf

PUBLISHED: 14:13 EST, 15 December 2013 | UPDATED: 16:43 EST, 15 December 2013


Conflict: Roger Waters, 70, has been branded an antisemitic after his comments last week

Conflict: Roger Waters, 70, has been branded an antisemitic after his comments last week

The former frontman of Pink Floyd has sparked outrage after comparing Israel's government to the Nazi regime.

Leading rabbis and Jewish writers have blasted Roger Waters as antisemitic for claiming the state's treatment of Palestinians is akin to the oppression of Jews between 1933 and 1946.

Waters, 70, who refuses to visit or perform in Israel, said he would not have played in France or Germany during the Second World War either.

'The parallels with what went on in the 1930s in Germany are so crushingly obvious,' he told American magazine Counter Punch last week.

'There were many people that pretended that the oppression of the Jews was not going on. From 1933 until 1946. So this is not a new scenario. Except that this time, it's the Palestinian people being murdered.'

He claimed Palestinians are regarded as 'sub-human', and branded the Israeli rabbinate 'bizarre'.

Enraged, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has hit back at Waters, calling his comments an 'antisemitic diatribe' which outstretches any other attack on Israel and Jews.

Writing in the New York Observer, Rabbi Boteach said: 'Mr Waters, the Nazis were a genocidal regime that murdered six million Jews.

'That you would have the audacity to compare Jews to monsters who murdered them shows you have no decency, you have no heart, you have no soul.'

 

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The conflict comes just months after Waters was forced to explain why he used a pig-shaped balloon decorated with a Star of David on the set of one of his concerts, seen by many to single out Judaism as an evil force.

The singer, a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, rebuffed his critics by claiming it was one of many religious symbols on the stage.

Last night, Waters rejected his critics once again.

It follows outrage earlier this year when a pig balloon marked with a Star of David formed part of Waters' set

It follows outrage earlier this year when a pig balloon marked with a Star of David formed part of Waters' set at a concert. Waters rejected claims it was a message to fans that Judaism is a force of evil

Speaking in New York, he said: ‘I do not know Rabbi Boteach, and am not prepared to get into a slanging match with him. I will say this: I have nothing against Jews or Israelis, and I am not antisemitic.

‘I deplore the policies of the Israeli government in the occupied territories and Gaza. They are immoral, inhuman and illegal. I will continue my non-violent protests as long as the government of Israel continues with these policies.’

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said everyone was ‘entitled to an opinion and to advocate passionately for a cause’.

But she added: ‘Drawing inappropriate parallels with the Holocaust insults the memory of the six million Jews – men, women and children – murdered by the Nazis.

'These kinds of attacks are commonly used as veiled antisemitism and should be exposed as such.’

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I have never understood why saying anything about Israeli government is always considered anti Semitic it's just about government and what they are doing to the Palestinians is a horrible thing and no offense but all this it's our land cause an invisible God said so is really quite ridiculous and if you study all the history of that region it was really held longer by people who are not Jewish

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Good on you Roger. You are so right. Look at some of the Arab press and not just the lies that we have to suffer in the west.

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Senile old man... sorry I purchased any of your music.

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Given that Israel keeps Palistinians in the conditions they do. Is is any wonder that people make these statements. STOP being the BULLY BOY of the middle east and it WILL stop/

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And the israelis killing the palestinians , so what's the difference?

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Stop buying his records!

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He slates a government, not the Jewish! All Jews are not Israelis Israelis are not all Jews, that's like slating the British Government and saying they are slating all Christians and that all British people are Christian and All British people should be offended and hate all who tell the truth about how they feel about British political agenda.. This anti semantic thing is out of control. Live for today, history repeats because of people being so over sensitive and so easily offended they will follow abusive policies and even vehemently protect it.

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He told the truth what is controversial about what he said the Israelis should be ashamed of what they have done to the Palestinian people over the years they cannot hide from their crimes forever!

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Very brave hitting out at Israel indeed! Unlike others in the middle east they will not issue a fatwa against him. Another 'brave' celebrity choosing the soft target. Try promoting women's rights in Arabia or Afghanistan; then we'll know you have a pair ... or don't human rights matter in Israel's enemies?

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Well,he is not completely wrong -remember,he speaks about the Israeli government and not the Israeli people in general.

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