Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits. Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in!Life is obviously a magical mystery tour. And for all those of us who reside in Israel, the long and winding road just became a little more scenic. With the surprise announcement by Beatles singer and composer Sir Paul McCartney that he will be performing in Tel Aviv next month, the Jewish nation has taken a smiling leap back 40 years in time.<br /><br />From car radios, open market CD players and inside elegant, modern stores, the warm, loving, magical and mythical blends of Beatles music permeate every city and town in Israel. From Metulla, Haifa and Katzrin in the North, to Hadera, Ra'anana, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to Ashkelon, Ashdod, Rehovot, Dimona and Eilat in the south you can hear the sweet voices Paul, John, Ringo and George.<br /><br />A host of Web 2 2.0 Facebook groups with a number of YouTube videos have already been intended to celebrate and promote Sir Paul McCartney's historic stop by at the Holy Land.<br /><br />In January, Israel ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor, handed a letter of apology to Julia Baird, sister of the late John Lennon, apologizing for a ban that Israel had positioned on the Beatles back 1965.<br /><br />The story begins back 43 years back once the Beatles were invited to execute in Israel with a concert which never occurred. At the time Israel officials cited financial problems, but it was a lot more than money that kept the Beatles away. Official permission necessary to withdraw precious forex to cover the Beatles was denied because a ministerial committee feared the corrupting influence of four long-haired Englishmen.<br /><br />The Israel committee report put it: "The Beatles have an insufficient artistic level and cannot add to the spiritual and cultural life of the youth in Israel."<br /><br />Sounds like this Israel committee was smoking stronger stuff than anything the Beatles could have familiar with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. The Israel politicians believed that The Beatles would corrupt innocent Israeli youth. But was it really naive Israel politicians?<br /><br />Criticism over the cancellation was fond of former Israel Education Ministry Director-General Yaakov Schneider, whose ministry was required to approve the performance of foreign bands in Israel.<br /><br />In a full page one story in the newspaper Haaretz, former Minister of Education and Environment Yossi Sarid stated that source of the cancellation was because of rivalry between two promoters in Israel. One have been offered a Beatles concert in 1962, before their star had risen, by Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, and had turned them down. Whenever a competitor booked them 3 years later, the first promoter used his government connections to keep the needed money from being disbursed.<br /><br />"I could assure you that my dad had never heard of the Beatles," Sarid said this week. "The promoter needless to say didn't come to the federal government and say, 'I can't stand this other guy and I don't want him to find the money.' He said this is a lousy group and will corrupt the spirit of the wonderful, brilliant, pure Israel youngsters. He exploited their ignorance."<br /><br />Fast forward to 2008 in Liverpool. Prosor, one of Israel's most senior and long-serving diplomats, was only seven years old when the "misunderstanding" between London and Jerusalem took place. But Prosor is really a man who most probably knows the lyrics to many Beatles tune and had not been about to miss out on an opportunity to enhance the celebration of Israel's 60th birthday.<br /><br />In a letter he wrote to the Beatles and their relatives: "There is absolutely no doubt that it was a great missed possibility to prevent people as if you, who shaped the minds of the generation, to come quickly to Israel and perform."<br /><br />The two surviving Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney, 65, and Ringo Starr, 67, were expected to join the anniversary celebrations in Israel in-may but never showed.<br /><br />But McCartney is no fool on the hill. He realizes the importance of Israel because the only democracy in the Middle East and could even see himself as one who might be able to bridge and get together with some peace through his music.<br /><br />A huge outdoor concert in Tel Aviv on September 25 has been confirmed by Sir McCartney.<br /><br />In his Website, Sir Paul McCartney announced his 'Friendship First' concert in Israel stating: "Israel will finally obtain the possiblity to experience a nights music and history Macca-style; the night time they are waiting decades for."<br /><br />Sir Paul added: "I've heard so many advantages of Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another. We are planning to have a great time and an excellent evening. We can't wait to get on the market and rock."<br /><br />The Paul McCartney show, made by promoter Dudu Zerzevsky, is likely to cost upward of $8 million to produce and will need a 100-person production team, extensive security, an extra-large stage, an expansive sound system, and two vegetarian kitchens at the show's location.<br /><br />The producers of the single appearance by Paul McCartney in Israel be prepared to break even with a take of 10 million NIS on the function. These numbers activate before any sponsorships happen. The businessman backing the event, Yakir Sha'ashua believes it will attract a capacity crowd to Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park, that may accommodate around 70,000 people.<br /><br />The Israel business newspaper Globes states that the expense of bringing Beatle Paul McCartney to Israel will reach over NIS 30 million, half of which will head to McCartney and his promoters, as the other half will cover production costs. Price now stand at NIS 1,500 for a front row ticket and NIS 500 for a seat on grass in the park. The promoters will have to sell 50,000 tickets and then cover the cost. This is the initial quantity which will continue sale at the Leean ticket offices.<br /><br />In accordance with British media, McCartney, has invited his girlfriend, 47-year-old New York Long Islander Nancy Shevell, to accompany him on the tour. The couple just finished a monthlong road trip over the famed Route 66 in america, where they were spotted by shocked fans at campsites, gasoline stations and motels.<br /><br />But the McCartney visit to Israel will be far from stealth.<br /><br />A large number of hate sites also have popped up by Palestinians, Iran, Syria, Hamas, Hizbollah, Islamic Jihad and those who believe that Paul McCartney can be an infidel.<br /><br />Propagandist Eileen Fleming, who deserves a gold Olympic medal for hateful incitement on an Arab Site, will not give peace a chance.<br /><br />She states: "I wondered what Lennon may have thought to his old mate in regards to making money from an apartheid state. Apartheid Israel continues to illegally occupy Palestinian along with other Arab lands."<br /><br />We in Israel ask what Apartheid?<br /><br />Israel Arabs serve in the Knesset, they're equal citizens.<br /><br />It is extreme Islam which truly practices apartheid with the clear separation of men from women, treating women as second class slaves, the murdering of homosexuals, labeling anyone who's not Islamic an infidel and has a right to be beheaded in the same manner as Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.<br /><br />Actually, Islamic apartheid transcends mere separation and ups the ante with the beheading of anyone who argues with the Satanic verses of the Koran. Can we also add Holocaust denial and clearly stating to "wipe Israel off the map" to the above?<br /><br />Fleming continues: "Israel has been "committing horrific war crimes in the occupied Gaza Strip, where its illegal and immoral policy of collective punishment - through a hermetic military siege and an almost complete blockage of fuel, electric power, and even food and medicine - is pushing 1.5 million Palestinian civilians to the brink of starvation. Israel's wanton killings of civilians, demolition of homes and property, uprooting greater than a million fruit bearing trees, incessant theft of land and water resources, denial of freedom of movement to millions, dividing indigenous Palestinian's into Bantustans caged by walls, fences and hundreds of roadblocks, isn't to be celebrated, but condemned and changed."<br /><br />Can Fleming pass the pipe? Is that grass, hash or crack?<br /><br />She actually is about as stoned because the committee which originally rejected the Beatles back in 1965!<br /><br />Eileen, sorry to bust your bubble, but when you have not heard, Iran backed Hamas controls Gaza, not Israel. So when for starvation where will be the Arab nations helping the citizens of Gaza? They don't need too as over 300 humanitarian UN and Red Cross trucks defy Hamas daily, bringing in food, medicine and fuel.<br /><br />Gaza has food and water. They only thing that Gazans lack are freedom and democracy.<br /><br />Eileen, do you consider Iran will invite Sir Paul to play in Teheran? Nah, they'll probably think that he'll corrupt Iran youth.<br /><br />David Horovitz, editor of the Jerusalem Post puts it right.<br /><br />Horovitz states that: "in the end these years of looking forward to you, Sir Paul, what we're getting is merely "a day in the life." David now places some Beatles lyrics into Israeli reality.<br /><br />ANY MOMENT At All - Let me get the complaint in early: I know we banned you in 1965, but did it really have to take this long? "Any moment at all." That's what you promised. "All you gotta do is call, and I'll be there." That was 43 years ago! Forty-three years to answer the telephone?<br /><br />GET TOGETHER - All credit to John Lennon because of this astoundingly prescient critique of our internal divides, of the boundless intolerance we in the Jewish state exhibit for methods to Judaism that change from our own. I guess we're not "beautiful" enough, because those opportunities for Jewish harmony really must not be "so difficult to see."<br /><br />Drive My Car - In Israel? Are you currently crazy? Take my advice, Sir Paul: Let another person drive it.<br /><br />Eight Days WEEKLY - You sing it, Israel lives it - six-day work week, two-day weekend. What we really need is nine days weekly, so that the Orthodox among us get yourself a proper weekend too.<br /><br />Give Peace A Chance - Trust me, Paulie, we've tried. We said yes to two states in 1948, and we've been doing so ever since. Have you considered singing this to the Iranians?<br /><br />The Beatles were a pop and rock group from Liverpool, England that was formed in 1960.<br /><br />The talented and creative group contains John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals).<br /><br />The Beatles are recognised for leading the 1960s musical "British Invasion" into the USA. Although their initial musical style was rooted in 1950s stone and homegrown skiffle, the group explored new musical sounds ranging from Tin Pan Alley to psychedelic rock. Their clothes, hair styles, and political statements made them trend-setters, while their growing social awareness saw their influence extend in to the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.<br /><br />After the band split up in 1970, all four members embarked upon solo careers.<br /><br />The Beatles are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the annals of popular music, selling over a billion records internationally. In the United Kingdom, The Beatles released a lot more than 40 different singles, albums, and EPs that reached number one, earning more number one albums than any group in English chart history. This commercial success was repeated in lots of other countries; their record company, EMI, estimated that by 1985 that they had sold over one billion records worldwide.<br /><br />In line with the Recording Industry Association of America, The Beatles have sold more albums in the United States than any band. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Beatles number one on its list of 100 Greatest Artists ever. According to Rolling Stone, The Beatles' innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s, and their influence on pop culture is still very evident today.<br /><br />The Hebrew name for the Beatles back in 1965 that was printed on the tickets is worth noting. The performers may have been universally referred to as the Beatles, however in Israel, then still attempting to create a culture buffered from foreign words and influence, these were Hipushiot Haketzev, or the Beat Beetles (like the bugs). What will the tickets appear to be in 2008?<br /><br />In the rapidly growing Facebook group - Israel Welcomes Beatles Sir James Paul McCartney To Tel Aviv - this writer comments: "The producers Dudu and Boaz Zerzevsky and yourself are very well aware your visit represents a genuine, defining moment of history. Therefore, please remember that Tel Aviv isn't NY, London, Montreal, Rome or Paris. One out of four children live in poverty in Israel. The average wage is 1,500 USD per month.<br /><br />The common Israeli cannot even imagine seeing nor hearing your home is.<br /><br />Please, as a respected humanitarian, produce two more concerts - one in Jerusalem and the other in Haifa. Donate a part of the proceeds to our hungry children.<br /><br />Please lower the cost of the non-VIP tickets. For as of this moment, the non-VIP tickets ARE VIP tickets - well out of your reach of the Israeli public.<br /><br />Paul - we wish you a safe, fun and comfortable trip to this magical Holy Land.<br /><br />May your presence and music unite the countless divisions that the peoples of the region suffer from.<br /><br />And perhaps you just should drop in on English educated Syria President Bashar Assad and ask him to remove several landmines from the Syria and Lebanon borders. Don't let it be."<br /><br />The above news content was edited and SEO optimized in Israel online by the Leyden Communications Group.<br /><br />Israel Says She Loves ONE TO Beatles Paul McCartney<br /><br />By Joel Leyden<br /><br />Israel News Agency Summary: Please note that all contributions to Disgaea Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Disgaea Wiki:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)