Israeli opera singer targeted in S. Africa

An Israeli opera singer says he was attacked with stink bombs during a performance at the Lyric Theater in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday night.

In a status posted on his Facebook profile, Yaniv d’Or recounted how protesters stormed the theater shouting pro-Palestinian slogans while he sang the song “Eli Eli,” by World War II martyr Hannah Szenesh.

At a later point, he said. a female protester burst onto the stage shouting and exploding the malodorants.

D’Or said he felt the “venom of hatred,” adding: “They hated me for the wrong reasons. I am a proud Israeli and British citizen and very much supporting [sic] freedom for Palestine.”

The singer said he felt shock and anger, and in a moment of impulse hugged the offending protester, leading her back stage to hand her over to security.

There have been several cases of Pro-Palestinian activists disrupting Israeli performances in recent years.

In August, protesters stormed a performance by the Batsheva Dance Company at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, forcing the show to stop several times.