British singer Sam Smith has cancelled his performance in Israel in May and those supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel are claiming it as a victory, thanking the singer for not performing in the country.

Smith was set to perform on May 31 as part of the Summer in the City two-day international festival at Park Hayarkon but his concert was called off due to “unexpected technical and logistical problems,” according to the production company. The concert was expected to be his first ever in Israel and was part of a world tour to promote his new album Gloria. The two-day festival has now been condensed to one day and all concerts will take place on June 1, with performances by Static, Calum Scott, Martin Garrix and Robbie Williams.

After Smith’s concert was cancelled, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) uploaded on Twitter a photo of the singer with the caption, “Thank you Sam Smith for cancelling your gig in apartheid Israel.” PACBI additionally said in a released statement, “Palestinians warmly welcome the news that Sam Smith will not be performing in apartheid Israel, and avoiding artwashing or pinkwashing Israel’s oppression against Palestinians … We urge remaining performers to withdraw from Summer in the City in apartheid Israel, & join 1000s of artists worldwide endorsing our non-violent struggle for human rights.”

There is no clear indication that Smith cancelled his concert due to pressure from the BDS movement and Smith has not released a comment about the announcement.

Source - The Algemeiner/Twitter - Image - Reuters