In two weeks' time Israel was due to host one of the country's most important cultural events in recent years. The popular American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers was scheduled to perform as part of the Big Day Out Festival, on a huge stage in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park. Twenty thousand tickets to the concert were already sold to anxious young fans.

Citing the U.S. State Department's renewed travel advisory warning, the rock band cancelled its upcoming visit to Israel. Producer Shuki Weiss, the Tel Aviv organizer of the festival, received notification of the cancellation as the band set out for its European tour. "What can you say that will convince people the images they see on TV do not reflect reality here?" Weiss asked when interviewed on Israel Radio.

This wasn't the first time that Weiss received notification of the band's intentions to cancel its Israeli concert. Shortly after the suicide attack at the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium discotheque at the beginning of June, the band announced it would not be coming to Israel. At that time, former U.S. President Bill Clinton personally called lead singer Anthony Kiedis and convinced the band to set a personal example and not cancel their plans due to the terror attack.

"The band's motivation to come was large indeed," Weiss said. "That was understandable from the e-mails my office had received and from the interviews that the band had given. However, there are security reasons that are hard to deal with."

Television broadcasts of suicide bombings take their toll
In addition to the State Department warnings, the television broadcasts showing the horrific attacks at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem and at the Wall Street café in Kiryat Motzkin had their affect. The commentary accompanying the broadcasts stated clearly to overseas listeners that the Islamic Jihad and the Hamas were no longer targeting busses and shopping malls, but all places of entertainment.

"I tried to talk to them," Weiss said. "I repeatedly promised them that band members would have professional, tight security, from the minute they arrived in Israel until they left. I told them the Yarkon Park would be the most secure place in Israel, but it didn't help. They fear, not only for themselves, but also for their fans."

Twenty thousand tickets had already been sold for the August 28 festival. British rock group The Stranglers, along with local artists Monika Sex, Rami Fortis and Yuval Banai, were also scheduled to perform at the concert. "With [the Red Hot Chili Peppers] canceling, that's the end of the festival," Weiss said, promising that ticket holders could get their money refunded at the place of purchase.

The festival was the only major rock concert scheduled in Israel this summer. Other big-name bands have stayed clear of Israel due to security fears.

"It took many years for Israel to appear on the map of world tours, and with the cancellation, we have moved several years back [in time]," Weiss said.

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