'The Stones' decision to ignore Roger Waters and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd underscored Israel's growing popularity as a stop for major musical acts, and it signaled a setback for a campaign known as boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS)...'

Heh, I love this.

At the Washington Post, "Rolling Stones to perform in Israel despite pressure from Pink Floyd members to cancel":

Mick singing Angie on stage tonight #StonesTelAviv pic.twitter.com/GT94vFIz6o

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) June 4, 2014

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL #StonesTelAviv https://t.co/aSyx77tgxa

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) June 4, 2014

JERUSALEM — Recently, two surviving founders of Pink Floyd sent the rock band equivalent of a diplomatic cable — an open letter published in Salon — to the Rolling Stones. They asked Mick Jagger and his crew to cancel their first-ever concert in Israel to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle against occupation.

But Pink Floyd hit a wall.

The Stones not only went on with the show Wednesday night in Tel Aviv but delayed their opening by 45 minutes to allow devout Jews time to reach the concert after the end of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, during which Orthodox Jews cannot drive, handle money — or press “Play” on the Stones’ “Exile on Main Street” album.

The Stones’ decision to ignore Roger Waters and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd underscored Israel’s growing popularity as a stop for major musical acts, and it signaled a setback for a campaign known as boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS). The movement seeks to apply international pressure on Israel to end its military occupation of the West Bank, guarantee the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes they fled or abandoned after 1948, and grant full rights and equality to Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The BDSers are employing tactics similar to those used against the apartheid regime in South Africa a generation ago. Since 2005, the movement has pushed individuals and institutions to sever academic partnerships, boycott items such as Golan wines and Dead Sea beauty products, and divest from Israeli companies. Israel says it is the only fully functioning democracy in the Middle East, so it answers its critics by suggesting they boycott Syria or Iran.

But the threat of BDS has rattled Israel. The movement has gained visibility on American and European college campuses, and it has also managed to inflict some financial pain...

BDS or not, Israel is now a popular stop on the global pop market. Last month, Justin Timberlake played in Tel Aviv, although after he posted an Instagram photo of himself leaning against the Western Wall, he caught some flak for hashtagging it #Israel. The wall is in the Old City of Jerusalem, which is contested ground.

Timberlake tweeted, “The Holy­land . . . What an experience. I will never forget this day.”

Lots more examples of BDS fail, at the link.

Good on the Stones for saying FU to BDS.

Last night's set list here.