British Comedian Banned from Palestinian Marathon

This is blind hatred! Izzard was banned from a pro-Palestinian event because he performed in Israel. 

Eddie Izzard, a British Comedian, was banned from running in the Palestine Marathon after refusing to cancel a show in Israel.

The comedian is known for his rambling monologues and cross-dressing. He performed in Tel Aviv on Thursday night.

Palestine Marathon organizers said Izzard was unwelcome unless he canceled his Tel Aviv show. “We refuse to be used as a fig leaf to cover up Izzard’s whitewashing of Israel’s occupation and apartheid,” they said.

“I believe… in the co-existence of an Israeli State and a Palestinian State,” said a statement from Izzard. “I decided, rather than doing nothing, to be proactive and play a gig in Tel Aviv and also run the Palestine Marathon the day after.”

Speaking to the Daily Mail on Friday, Izzard said: “As someone born in Yemen, I took political advice before deciding to perform a show in Tel Aviv, Israel. I came to the conclusion there are many different feelings on this subject and I was trying to be balanced. So, as someone who is well known for my comedy and my marathon running, I decided to perform the show in Tel Aviv and also run the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem.”

“I have now performed my show in Tel Aviv but even though the Palestinian Authority are allowing me to run in the Palestine Marathon, others do not want me to run. All I wanted to do was to try and bring a little extra focus to the Palestine Marathon and to the situation there. But if they would rather I didn’t, I’m fine with that. But good luck to all the runners and I hope they run great marathons,” he said.

Some 5,000 runners participated in the 5^th annual Free Movement Palestine Marathon (formerly Right to Movement Palestine Marathon) in Bethlehem. The objective is to protest against Israel’s so-called “occupation” of Judea and Samaria.

By: United with Israel Staff

Source: United with Israel