It's fair to say that the Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Cat-Stevens is not Israel's favorite musician.
The high-profile convert to Islam has twice been deported from Israel amid allegations, which Stevens denies, that he had knowingly given money to Hamas charities.
Last fall, it looked like some sort of detente taking shape when Stevens, who changed his name to Yusuf Islam, was invited to sing at a 10th anniversary celebration in Israel for the Shimon Peres Center for Peace.
But when word got out that Israel's president was hosting Stevens, the invite was unceremoniously withdrawn.
Now, in the aftermath of the deadly Israeli military campaign in Gaza that killed more than 1,200 Palestinians, destroyed an estimated 4,000 homes and caused upwards of $2 billion in damage, Stevens has decided to return to the region - in a way.
The song, "The Day the World Gets 'Round," is now available for download.
"I hope this song will help remind people of the immense legacy of love, peace and happiness we can share when we get round to looking at mankind’s futile wars and prejudices, and start to change our foolish ways,” Stevens says on his Web site.
While Stevens is taking the compassionate approach to raising money for Gaza, Jordan's Queen Rania is making a different kind of appeal.
Queen Rania, who starred last fall in an amusing video homage to David Letterman with her own Top 10 list, has produced a more grim new video about Gaza called "Hell on Earth."
I don't understand. You introduce the fact that he changed his name a considerably long time ago, but you still refer to him in the story as Cat Stevens. I notice this happens a lot, but what's wrong with actually respecting his new, legal name after reminding folks of what it used to be?
Posted by: Sadia | January 27, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Because people still know him as Cat Stevens. Sheesh.
Posted by: jimbo | January 27, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Over the hill long ago, why even bother with him? Guess if he was serious about the cause he would actually write an original tune instead ov covering someone elses work...
Posted by: Buck Rogers | January 28, 2009 at 01:52 PM
From your headline, I figured that Jordan's Queen thought Yusuf Islam's new release was Hell.
Glad I watched the youtube clip so it was cleared up for me.
Posted by: izzybee | January 29, 2009 at 05:40 AM
Seems that those Hamas fanatics keep lighting the same fuse on rockets. Perhaps nuking Gaza is easier if Gaza can't boot it's warmongers faction. Is there such a thing as addiction to killing and hate? Hamas! Bush! Most of the rest of us are sane, til these bums try to make themselves important...possibly they can't hold even a dishwashing job...
Posted by: Matthew | January 29, 2009 at 05:55 AM