Protestors will continue to target Israeli Fringe show

Protestors have vowed to keep up the pressure on arts venues hosting acts associated with the Israeli state during the Edinburgh Festival.

They had success this week when Fringe show The City had to be stopped after just one performance following demonstrations outside its host venue, the Underbelly on Bristo Square.

Pro-Palestine protestors were outraged by arts company Incubator Theatre’s links, through funding, to the Israeli state – the same state which has been involved in mass civilian deaths during the ongoing onslaught in Gaza.

Incubator has vowed to find another venue, with artistic director Arik Eshet saying his group will not be run out of Edinburgh.

It is understood that The City may be re-staged at the Festival Theatre at Potterrow.

However, Mick Napier, secretary of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, vowed demonstrators would target performances wherever they take place.

There are two Israeli acts at the festival and we have no objections to them because they are not sponsored by the Israeli state

He said: “The three day humanitarian cease fire in Gaza was broken by the Israelis killing four Palestinians. The Israeli state is making its point with Palestinian corpses.

“There are two Israeli acts at the festival and we have no objections to them because they are not sponsored by the Israeli state.

“Our sole objection is Israeli state intrusion into the artistic scene in Scotland through these performances at the Edinburgh Fringe. We will keep the pressure up.”

Another performance – a show called La Karina by Pola Dance Group at St Bride’s, starting on 9 August – will also be targeted because of its Israeli state links.