THE JEWISH LEADER, OCTOBER 9, 2015 13 dedicates song ‘We Don’t Run’ to Israel At packed, rapturously received Tel Aviv concert, when a Palestinian man stabbed two Israelis to rocker tells his Jewish keyboard player, death in the Old City, and injured two others. ‘Your father would be proud of you’ “Good evening Tel Aviv, Israel! Are you ready for rock ‘n roll? I’ve waited a long time for this, By Times of Israel Staff baby!” Bon Jovi called out to fans packed into Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park before opening with the performance in Israel Saturday evening, Octo- song “That’s What the Water Made Me.” berJon 3 byBon telling Jovi kicked 50,000 off cheering his band’s Israelis first-ever “I’ve waited a long time for this!” time, and we still have a ways to go tonight. Are A few songs into the show, he underlined you“We with finally me?” he made asked. it here. It took us a long his empathy with Israel by introducing a new In an 18-song setlist, fans were treated to song called “We Don’t Run,” released earlier this some of Bon Jovi’s newer material as well as summer, with the comment: “This should be the the group’s biggest hits, including “,” “It’s My Life,” and, at the end And later in the performance, the New Jersey- of the long set, “Livin on a Prayer.” Bon Jovi members in Israel on Friday. From left: Drummer Tico fightborn songrocker for name-checked Tel Aviv.” his keyboard player, The 53-year-old musician was upbeat and Torres, keyboard player David Bryan, and singer . the Jewish musician David Bryan (Rashbaum), energetic throughout, constantly encouraging (Facebook) by saying that “your father would be proud of the audience to clap and sing along, and having you” for being in Israel pounding the piano. them sing solo at the start of “Wanted Dead or Unremarkably, Bon Jovi’s decision to play in Israel had led to Probably unbeknown to the band, the con- Alive.” He introduced that song by asking, “For- pressure from boycott activists and criticism from anti-Israel fel- cert began minutes after a terrorist attack in low rocker Roger Waters. Jerusalem 60 kilometers (some 40 miles) away, cowboys in Israel?” Waters and other supporters of the Boycott Divestment Sanc- give me an innocent question: Are there any tions movement urged the band to cancel the concert, but a local promoter said that Bon Jovi, a longtime Democrat who recent- NETANYAHU/PUTIN CONT. FROM PAGE 12 ly hosted a fundraiser for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, should send anxiety and fear through the veins BDS is one of the most important geo-stra- “couldn’t care less.” of all Jews. The anti-Semitism of the czars and tegic threats facing Israel. Alienating Israel The band and its leader were evidently unfazed by the criti- culturally, economically, politically and morally cism. Arriving in Israel on Friday, they had greeted fans and Stalin and Communism, and now through Putin will cause a mass exodus of Jews from Israel; theand RussianNationalism. Orthodox Have no Church doubt flowed about that. through Be- recall the Jewish exodus from South Africa dur- - ware of leaders! ing Apartheid. brieflyformance spoken of their to 2015 journalists, world tour. with Bon Jovi saying he and the Netanyahu has convinced the majority of Is- BDS is a movement that must not be ignored bandWhen were asked “happy why to the finally band be had here” never on playedwhat was in Israel the last before, per raeli people that America is a declining power. and cannot be fought with vitriol by paid Has- Bon Jovi jokingly pointed at his tour promoter, and said, “Blame He has told his followers that the USA cannot bara trolls on Twitter and Facebook. Raising Marcel, he’s never let us come.” be trusted to come to Israel’s defense. Israel the horrendous tragedy of Holocaust victims has over one-million Russian born citizens who will not excuse Netanyahu’s devastating wars always wanted to come to, so this was the perfect opportunity to identify more with Putin than America. Those on Palestinians in the eyes of the world. In “But, no, we’re happy to finally be here. This is a place that I’ve Russians are his key voting bloc. They keep him fact, it is insulting to those sacred martyrs to He said he hoped to tour in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the in power. He panders to them at Israel’s security use their names politically and for nationalistic finallyband’s comestay. to Israel,” Bon Jovi said. and expense. Israel is changing. purposes. Speaking to the Hebrew press last Friday, Bon Jovi said he “al- Netanyahu has established a “hotline” with a The result of a successful BDS movement ways heard what a wonderful place Israel is – the birthplace of direct link between himself and Putin. He may will be the end of Israel as a Jewish state. We all religions. use it at any time. Netanyahu has entered into know from South Africa and other countries “I have been everywhere and Israel was a place that I’ve al- an intelligence and military pact with Russia re- that such movements only grow in strength ways wanted to visit, but it never worked out. This time I insist- over time. Consider Iran and Cuba are two of ed that Israel must be on our list and it happened!” That relationship will expand. Netanyahu has Underlining the sentiment, he ended Saturday’s show with a gardingcoordinated Middle military East affairs,attacks onin Syriaparticular with RusSyria.- come to the table. promise: “I’ll come here any time you want.” sia in opposition to the United States Depart- the latest who finally gave into BDS and have Jessica Steinberg and JTA contributed to this report. ment of Defense and the President. guarantee the survival of Israel as a Jewish Netanyahu is working with Egypt’s dictator state,If Jewishwe must Americans unite and arebe strong. to influence We do that and - best by calling our ambassador home and with- 20% OFF WITH THIS AD ence. Netanyahu sees Egypt as the solution to (el-Sisi) to separate Egypt from American influ aid to Israel until it withdraws from its unholy ALL PRINTING SERVICES holdingalliance allwith military, Russia, technological until it enters and into financial a sin- thefor a“Palestinian “new” state; problem.” as insulting Egypt to Palestinians has offered as to cere 11-month timeline for a two-state solu- give 1,600 square miles to Palestine in the Sinai tion with Palestine, and until it establishes the COPY - remember that? groundwork for a permanent and peaceful so- 458 Williams St., New London • 442-8424 • www/copycatsnl.com wasNetanyahu Stalin offering is alienating Jews a “new” Israel Israel from in its Siberia only lution to the Golan Heights occupation and il- sincere and true friend, the United States of legal annexation. America. In doing so, he is threatening the ex- Netanyahu may think he is tough, but if we tremely gifted Jewish community thriving in Americans apply the necessary pressure, he Custom Tub & Shower America. We hear accusations of dual-loyalty, will come to his senses, resign or be defeated Ruby Glass Enclosures our youth are becoming more anti-Israel, and by Israelis at the polls. What we don’t want is CO., INC • Design & Installation • All-Glass Enclosures most dangerous of all, demands for boycott, di- for him to lead innocent Israelis atop a moun- SERVING SOUTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT vestment and sanctions (BDS) grow louder and tain where suicide is their only option. FOR OVER 60 YEARS louder, and not only among non-Jews, but from We are our brothers’ keepers! Beware of Expert Mirror Design & the mouths of Jews. leaders! FULLSERVICE GLASS SPECIALISTS Installation Netanyahu and Israel must realize that as Dr. David Romei has a Doctorate in Medieval • Visit Our Showroom America goes in these matters, so goes Britain, History and was Professor of Leadership in Med- Australia, New Zealand, France, South Africa icine at Texas A&M University, College of Medi- 151 Jefferson Avenue • New London, CT 06320 and Canada - all major allies of Israel and home cine. He is a member of Congregation Beth El, Phone (860) 442-0373 • Fax (860) 442-1356 to major Jewish populations. New London, CT.