RAMALLAH: Canadian rocker Bryan Adams will headline concerts for peace in the West Bank and Israel next week, with performances relayed by satellite to simultaneous events in London, Ottawa and Washington, organizers said Sunday.
Adams, 47, had a series of multi-platinum albums during the 1980s and mid-1990s and was nominated for an Academy Award for “Everything I Do, his theme for the 1991 Kevin Kostner film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
The New York-based “One Voice peace movement said the concerts were aimed at bolstering its campaign to collect one million signatures of ordinary Israelis and Palestinians demanding that their leaders sit down and finalize an agreement on a Palestinian state living at peace with Israel.
The head of One Voice s Ramallah office, Fathi Darwish, said Adams would launch the West Bank event at a football stadium in the ancient town of Jericho, then head to Tel Aviv to perform in the second half of the three-hour show there.
The two venues are about 90 minutes apart by road, though army roadblocks can make the trip significantly longer. Darwish said Adams might travel by helicopter.
Other artists booked to appear on the Jericho stage are Iraqi guitarist Ilham Al Madfai, Israeli Arab Hip-Hop outfit DAM and Palestinian singers and dancers.
Our goal is to send a message to the world, that the Palestinian people love life, and hope for life and liberation, Darwish said.
In Tel Aviv, Mashina, Hadag Nachash, Ehud Banai and other rock and pop acts are to perform.
Both events will feature addresses by officials and local peace activists and Hollywood celebrities will send messages by videolink, the organizers said.
One Voice s Hollywood supporters include Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Rhea Perlman, Danny de Vito and Jason Alexander.
One Voice said last month it so far had just over half a million signatories to its initiative – split about equally between Israelis and Palestinians – and was aiming to reach the one million target by the end of the year.
Entry to the Oct.18 events will be free, but concertgoers must sign the One Voice petition to gain entrance, the movement s Web site said. Associated Press
