Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has reignited debate over the band's relationship with Israel, stating in a recent interview that he would 'absolutely not' perform in the country today and would not want to be anywhere near the current government. Yorke's comments come ahead of Radiohead's first tour in seven years and revisit the controversy surrounding their 2017 concert in Tel Aviv, which faced intense criticism and boycott calls from anti-Israel activists and fellow artists.

Yorke reflected on the band's decision to go ahead with the Tel Aviv show despite pressure, noting that he was personally thanked by someone with government connections at the time. He emphasized his refusal to return, while acknowledging guitarist Jonny Greenwood's personal ties to Israel. Greenwood, who has collaborated for years with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, offered a contrasting view, arguing that boycotts may reinforce government isolation and expressing pride in working with both Arab and Jewish artists.

Greenwood and Tassa's joint project, which features musicians from across the Arab world, has faced its own challenges, including canceled performances in the United Kingdom attributed to boycott pressure. The duo defended their work as a celebration of Arabic music and criticized efforts to silence musicians as censorship.