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Pink Floyd star in 'antisemitism' row

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An American Jewish organisation has become embroiled in a row with the lead singer of British rock band Pink Floyd.

The Anti Defamation League (ADL) has criticised Roger Waters for “crossing a line into antisemitism” after it emerged that he will use a planned concert to juxtapose a Jewish symbol with the dollar sign.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Mr Waters revealed that during his forthcoming tour he will be performing in front of a projection showing Israel dropping bombs in the shape of stars of David, followed by the dollar symbol.

The animated scene, a condemnation of Israel’s security fence, will form the backdrop to performances of his 1979 hit Goodbye Blue Sky.

Abraham Foxman, the ADL’s national director, criticised the singer for what he described as an “outrageous” action.

He said: “The use of such imagery in a concert setting seems to leave the message open to interpretation, and the meaning could easily be misunderstood as a comment about Jews and money.

Mr Foxman said that while musicians had “every right” to express their beliefs through music, the singer " should have chosen some other way to convey his political views.”

He added that this was “playing into and dredging up the worst age-old antisemitic stereotype about Jews and their supposed obsession with making money.”

Mr Waters, 67, is a longtime critic of Israeli policy. During a 2009 concert in Israel he said he hoped that the security fence was “destroyed soon.”

At the Big Chill festival in August Massive Attack performed in front of a screen featuring slogans about Israelis' wealth and troop numbers.

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