Just hours before he was to perform at a concert in memory of the Dickstein family and Elazar Leibowitz who were killed by Arab terrorists six years ago, Ehud Banai cancelled his participation saying that the evening had taken on a "political flavor". Banai was virtually isolated within his milieu for performing in Gush Etzion several years back when Peace Now was quoted as spreading the word that by performing at such venues Banai was a "hired mercenary" for the Right.
When reached for comment, Mayor of the Har Hebron region, Zviki Bar Hai, said that he respected Ehud Banai as a person and as an artist and felt regret that the peer pressure was such that Banai felt he had to cancel or suffer professionally.
