Paul McCartney News

McCartney in Bethlehem: I'm carrying peace message

AP, Sep 24, 2008 1:00 pm PDT
Paul McCartney said Wednesday he's carrying a message of peace for Israel and the Palestinians, rejecting criticism of his planned concert in Tel Aviv.

McCartney toured the West Bank town of Bethlehem, visiting the Church of the Nativity, built over the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

The 66-year-old former Beatle ducked into the fourth-century church through its low, narrow entrance, taking pictures with a small camera. He lit two long, tapered white candles in different parts of the church, saying each time that they were "for peace."

After posing for pictures with fans outside the fortress-like church, McCartney was asked to respond to criticism from some Palestinians that his visit to Israel supports its occupation of the West Bank.

He said his visit Wednesday to the West Bank showed he was not playing favorites.

"I'm here to highlight the situation and to say that what we need is peace in this region, a two-state solution," he said, referring to Israel and a Palestinian state.

"I get criticized everywhere I go, but I don't listen to them," McCartney said. "I'm bringing a message of peace, and I think that's what the region needs."

McCartney arrived Tuesday night ahead of his concert Thursday in Tel Aviv's largest park.

Four decades ago the Israeli government banned a planned concert by the Beatles, ruling that the rock group's performance could corrupt the morals of Israel's youth.

___

On the Net:

http://www.paulmccartney.com/

(This version CORRECTS short overline from Israel to Bethlehem.)

More Artist News

Paul McCartney plans European tour in December

Oct 22, 2009 1:00 am PDT

Paul McCartney will return to Hamburg, where The Beatles honed their craft, to launch his first European tour in five years. McCartney announced Thursday he will play the German city on Dec. 2 to kick off the "Good Evening Europe" tour. ...

Paul McCartney to release CD/DVD of NY shows

Sep 30, 2009 3:00 pm PDT

Paul McCartney's recent three-night concert stand in New York City -- during which the rock legend delved into his Beatles, Wings and solo catalogs and brought Billy Joel to the stage -- is coming to CD and DVD. On November 17, McCart...

Early McCartney musings discovered in Liverpool

Sep 27, 2009 4:00 am PDT

A discovery in a Liverpool library has revealed that Paul McCartney's talent for writing was winning him prizes when he was just 10 — though for an essay about the queen, rather than a hit song. A British researcher said he found an ...

McCartney plays first concert ever at Citi Field

Jul 18, 2009 1:00 am PDT

Sir Paul McCartney knighted another New York Mets ballpark Friday night, playing the first concert ever at Citi Field. "Long time since I've been here," the former Beatle told the crowd, then paused to take it all in. Citi Field is the s...

McCartney performs where Beatles made US TV debut

Jul 16, 2009 9:00 am PDT

Forty-five years after the Beatles' American TV debut at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Paul McCartney got back — with a concert on top of the marquee. McCartney put on an outdoor show atop the theater's marquee Wednesday for a crowd estim...

Photos

Loading...
View All Photos »

Videos

1-6 of 14 videos
Prev | Next
View All Videos »

Artist on Last.fm