Israel is trying to atone for a decision to bar a tour by the Beatles 43 years ago.
Israel’s ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, has written a letter to relatives of the late Beatles singer John Lennon and guitarist George Harrison apologizing for a 1965 government ban on the British pop group and inviting its surviving members – Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – to play in the Jewish state.
“We should like to take this opportunity to correct the historic error which to our great regret occurred in 1965, when you were invited to Israel,” Yediot Achronot quoted the letter as saying. “We should like to see you sing in Israel.”
The Beatles were to have sung in Tel Aviv during their 1960s heyday, but political leaders nixed the appearances out of fear the Fab Four would “corrupt” Zionist youth.
