Although Depeche Mode played Israel in 2009, we hope to persuade them not to play again on 7 May, 2013.  Since their last concert in Tel Aviv, Israel has engaged in further brutal oppression of the Palestinian people, including land theft, home demolition, ethnic cleansing and enacting more laws enshrining the apartheid system.

Meanwhile the illegal siege of Gaza, collective punishment of a civilian population, is maintained. Israel regularly attacks civilians in Gaza, the most recent major onslaught claiming 160 Palestinian lives. Farmers and fishermen, children and mothers, Palestinians are killed and maimed as they go about their daily lives.

The production company that is bringing the band to Israel has actively participated in the infringements of human rights, by assisting the state of Israel in whitewashing its war crimes against the Palestinian people; co-opting human rights organizations in opaque interactions including offering bribes; adopting state propaganda rhetoric, which has a clear goal to distract attention from state violations in its communication with its business partners and clients; and willfully participating in parliamentary debates that aim to stifle the freedom of speech and prevent legitimate protest.