Israel’s President is expected this week to appoint the individual who will form the next government, and on Monday he received a notable visitor — Boy George.
The British singer — an uncommon Western pop figure who rejects pro-Palestinian boycott calls and actively supports Israel — is in Israel for two concerts in Tel Aviv.
President Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, welcomed the former Culture Club star to his Jerusalem office, saying, “Welcome, dear Boy George. You are such a great friend.”
Boy George, wearing a black beret with confetti draped across his brow, replied in Hebrew, “The people of Israel, we will dance again!”
This reference alludes to a solidarity message issued after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks — the deadliest day in Israeli history, when militants crossed from Gaza and killed many young people at the Nova music festival.
Boy George is scheduled to visit the site on Tuesday.
In July, he released the song “We Shall Dance Again,” whose lyrics openly endorsed Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza, prompting backlash that led him to withdraw from a West End production.
The 65‑year‑old singer and LGBTQ pioneer, born George O’Dowd, has frequently spoken of his affinity for the Jewish community in which he was raised in London.
Few major international pop artists have performed in Israel in recent years, as activists have called for a boycott amid the Gaza conflict, which has devastated much of the territory.
