Beatles Banned from Israel?

In 2008, the nation of Israel sent a formal letter of apology to Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and members of the Lennon and Harrison families. Why? Because back in the 1960's, Israel banned the Beatles.

Paul McCartney performing in Tel Aviv, 2008

Yes, you read that correct: Israel banned the Beatles. But where did this come from, you ask? Was it from anti-Semitic behavior or acts? McCartney's father was a bit anti-Semitic himself, who wasn't sure it was a good idea for the band to put their trust in their (at the time) new manager Brian Epstein, who was Jewish. Lennon himself is on record with making anti-Semitic jokes at the expense of Brian Epstein.

Or was it the event in 1968 for publicity? Upon the release of the new single "Hey Jude", McCartney thought it would be a good idea to paint the name of the song right in the middle of London's business district. This didn't go well having "Hey Jude" painted there. Jewish residents called Apple Records to complain about the paint work. Why? Because it was reminiscent of the Nazi act of painting German businesses owned by Jewish citizens with "No Juden" or "Juden Owned". Certainly this didn't help the relations with Israel. But was that the cause?

Actually, no. Israel banned the Beatles in 1965, a full three years before the failed publicity stunt. So why were they banned? For the same reason that many conservative families didn't like the Beatles. The key is in an Israeli Resolutions 691 and 709.

Resolution 691: Resolved: Not to allow the [Beatles'] request for fear that the performances by the Beatles are liable to have a negative influence on the [country's] youth.

Resolution 709: …the band has no artistic merit… [performances] cause hysteria and mass disorder among young people.

Many American conservative groups wouldn't buy into the merits of the British band for the exact same reasons, but it was Israel that banned them. It was 43 years later when they finally apologized and allowed the surviving members to return. On September 26, 2008, Paul McCartney was the first Beatle to perform a concert in Israel. It was the "Friendship First" concert which celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Israeli state.