‘Bataclan theater may have been targeted for its Jewish ties’
Was this concert of the US-band chosen by chance? A lot of people do not think so.
By MICHAEL GAERTNERA woman sits by a poster which reads "Solidarity with Paris" in Nice, France, November 15, 2015, after a series of deadly shootings in Paris on Friday.(photo credit: REUTERS)
When Islamic State terrorists attacked the Eagles of Death Metal concert at the Bataclan theater in Paris on Friday night, they slaughtered 89 people there on the spot.Was this concert of the US-band chosen by chance? A lot of people do not think so. They say the real cause could have been that the band performed in Tel Aviv, where they expressed pro-Israel views.In July the Californian band played at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club. Prior to the concert, Roger Waters, the ex-front man of Pink Floyd and a big supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, had written lead singer Jesse Hughes and demanded he reconsider performing in Israel. But Hughes declared at the Tel Aviv concert: “I answered with two words: F**k you! I would never boycott a place like this!” In September, Rolling Stone magazine interviewed the band for its new album, Zipper Down and band member Josh Homme said that “There were all sorts of Middle East troubles and all these other things, so we’re sorry for that.”When Rolling Stone asked whether Zipper Down is the band’s response to terrorism, Homme replied, “Yeah. We put out a record and human rights are better, the world feels better, people make more money, there’s less anger, people are more respectful to woman and to homosexuals, and they’re generally nicer each other, they’re kinder to each other, and that’s why we really felt like it was time to let the healing begin.”It is not known whether the terrorists had read the article.Moreover, the extremists might have thought the owners of the theater were still Jewish, as it was indeed Jewish-owned for decades – but it was sold two months ago. One of the former owners, Pascal Laloux, told reporters: “The theater was sold in September after 40 years.”Laloux’s brother, Joel, who recently moved to Israel, told Channel 2 news: “I took a call from the theater at the time of the attack and I could hear the gunfire.”Currently the theater, which was built in 1865, is owned by gentiles Jules Frutos and Olivier Poubelle.One of the crew members of the Eagles of Death was killed during the attack. Merchandising manager Nick Alexander was working at the lobby booth when he was murdered.The Eagles of Death plan to return to Israel next summer, but no date has been set.