So much for “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “All We Need Is Love.”
Such messages are apparently lost on “self-styled preacher of hate” Omar Bakri, who–according to the UK Daily Express–has threatened knighted Beatle Paul McCartney that “he will be the target of suicide bombers unless he abandons plans to play his first concert in Israel,” claiming that Sir Paul’s decision to visit the Jewish state’s during its 60th anniversary celebrations had “made him an enemy of all Muslims.”
Another detractor apparently wrote online, “Shame on you Paul McCartney for day trippin’ to apartheid Israel.” That writer vowed never to buy his music again, which I don’t think is really a punishment for the man who’s likely made more money from music than is humanly possible. Perhaps the writer should be himself (or herself) banned from enjoying Beatles music, for his (or her) wiseguy (or gal) insertion of a Beatles title into such a criticism and thinking it’s clever.
To Paul’s credit, he seems undeterred by these threatening comments:

In an interview with Israeli media yesterday he said: “I was approached by different groups and political bodies who asked me not to come here. I refused. I do what I think and I have many friends who support Israel.”
His friends all over Israel support him–I was in Israel when Paul’s Israel concert was announced, and I’ve never heard such excitement about a concert there. Israelis have been looking forward to Paul’s visit for years. (A Facebook event, Paul McCartney in Israel!, sprung up almost immediately after the announcement, and so far 144 guests are “confirmed,” with another 115 “maybes”; and that likely doesn’t even include the fans who are old enough to actually remember the Beatles.)
I’m glad Paul seems so confident in his decision, and having seen some of Israel’s security measures this summer at various events, I’m certain they’ll take the necessary precautions to make sure that the event stays the celebration of musical achievement and legacy that it was intended to be. Cheers to you, Sir Paul; enjoy Israel!