In late December, activists Nadia Abu-Shanab and Justine Sachs co-wrote an op-ed for New Zealand web site The Spinoff urging Lorde to not carry out a scheduled live performance in Tel Aviv and inspiring her to “join the artistic boycott of Israel.” In the times following, Lorde cancelled the show, apologizing to her Israeli followers and writing, “I hope one day we can all dance.” On January 31, it was reported that the op-ed authors have been being sued by the Israeli legislation middle Shurat HaDin on behalf of three Israeli Lorde followers struggling “moral and emotional injury” from the cancellation. Abu-Shanab and Sachs subsequently penned a press release saying they’d “not received any summons or other formal notice” of the swimsuit, calling it a “hoax.”
Now, Abu-Shanab and Sachs are being ordered to pay over $12,000 in damages, the Associated Press reports. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, the lawyer for the three Israeli ticket holders who have been reportedly prompted emotional misery by the live performance cancellation, stated the choice sends the message that “no one can boycott Israel without paying for it.”
Source
