Gene Simmons has criticised musicians who boycott Israel.

The Kiss bassist said those who refused to perform in Israel for political reasons were “fools”.

Mr Simmons, whose mother was an Auschwitz survivor, was born in Haifa in 1949 as Chaim Witz.

He made the comments while in Jerusalem to film scenes for his reality show, the Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

The rocker, known for his outspoken remarks, said returning to Israel for the first time since he left as an eight-year-old was a “homecoming”.

He added: "I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider.

"I was born here and I'm proud of it."