Entertainer Eddie Izzard's decision to perform a gig in Israel the day before a scheduled run in the Palestine Marathon led the race to announce he would be banned from entering.
Izzard, a British comedian and actor known for cross-dressing, announced on Twitter this week he would perform in Tel Aviv on Thursday and then run in the Palestinian Marathon in the West Bank city of Bethlehem the next day. The race's organizers seek to draw attention to what they call an illicit occupation of their land and restriction of their movements.
I’m looking forward to performing in Tel Aviv, 30 March - https://t.co/pLEeDJfrwS - and running in the Palestine Marathon on the 31 March! pic.twitter.com/k4CAdIH9P1
— Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard) March 28, 2017
But Izzard's decision to perform in the Jewish state triggered a major backlash from anti-Israel forces, including the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which accused him of crossing a red line, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
"Performing in Tel Aviv is equivalent to performing in Sun City during the time of apartheid, and there is no balancing act that can justify violating the Palestinian boycott call," said the Palestinian Campaign for the Cultural and Academic Boycott of Israel, part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
Reports emerged on Thursday that Izzard had been banned from the Palestine Marathon, a 21km route running through Bethlehem, several refugee camps, and alongside Israel's separation wall, with the organizers having returned his registration.
The official Twitter account of the marathon backed up this claim.
British comedian Eddie Izzard cannot run for freedom this Friday if he entertains in Tel Aviv on Thursday.
— Palestine Marathon (@PalMarathon) March 30, 2017
"We refuse to be used as a fig leaf to cover up Izzard’s whitewashing of Israel’s occupation and apartheid" @eddieizzard
— Palestine Marathon (@PalMarathon) March 30, 2017
However, Izzard's representatives claimed the Palestinian Authority allowed him to run and that the performer himself ultimately decided against it, the Reporter noted.
However, reps for Izzard–who in 2016 ran 27 marathons as a tribute to Nelson Mandela's 27 years in prison during South Africa's apartheid regime–denied that this was the case, asserting that he'd been given the all clear.
Izzard eventually didn't run. But the actor maintained that the decision to withdraw from the marathon was his alone.
"I have now performed my show in Tel Aviv but even though the Palestinian Authority are allowing me to run in the Palestine Marathon, others do not want me to run," he said in a statement.
Izzard added that he wished the other runners good luck. The race claimed to have 5,500 registered runners for this year's event, making it the largest in its four-year history.
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PRESIDENT'S NOTE TO CONCERNED READERS: The use of the term "Palestine Marathon" in no way condones nor recognizes the existence of a place called "Palestine." Free Beacon editorial policy strictly forbids the use of the term Palestine unless referring to an actual official title of a proper noun. A similar example would be reference to the title of "The Wizard of Oz." Use of the term Oz in such a case, would in no way suggest official Free Beacon recognition of the existence of a magical land of Oz, same goes for use of the phrase "Palestine Marathon," which in no way, shape or form suggests a recognition of the existence of a place called "Palestine." So is the ruling of the Free Beacon President, 5 Nisan 5774.