Justine Sachs and Nadia Abu-Shanab, who were slapped with lawsuit by disgruntled ticket holders, reportedly dismiss the ruling after consulting legal experts in New Zealand.
- October 13, 2018
AceShowbiz - Two New Zealand activists held responsible for convincing Lorde to scrap a planned gig in Israel have brushed off a court order demanding they pay damages.
Justine Sachs and Nadia Abu-Shanab appealed to the singer to "join the artistic boycott of Israel" in an open letter ahead of her June show in Tel Aviv, and Lorde took note, thanking them for "educating her," before cancelling her concert days later.
The news of the axe outraged fans in Israel, and three ticket holders filed a civil suit against the two women under a local 2011 law that allows legal action against anyone who calls for a boycott against the country.
On Thursday (11Oct18), it emerged Sachs and Abu-Shanab had been fined $12,000 (£9,000) in damages for causing emotional distress, but the pro-Palestinian campaigners have now responded to the ruling, insisting the law is simply designed to "intimidate Israel's critics."
They have no plans to pay the fee, and will instead put their efforts into fundraising for a mental health organisation in Gaza.
According to the Associated Press, they have consulted legal experts in New Zealand, who have declared authorities in Israel have "no right to police the political opinions of people across the world."
