Pro-Palestinian organizations in Jordan on Wednesday urged a boycott of Andrea Bocelli‘s upcoming Petra concert, pointing to the Italian tenor’s outspoken support for Israel, AFP reported.

The 68-year-old, blind since childhood, performed in Tel Aviv in 2022 before a crowd that included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissing boycott calls at the time, according to AFP. He has also appeared at a 2010 Los Angeles fundraiser for a pro-Israel military group and more recently distinguished himself as one of the few globally recognized musicians agreeing to perform for US President Donald Trump.

“We call on you to boycott Andrea Bocelli’s concert because of his long-standing public support for the Israeli enemy… Do not buy tickets! Demand… the cancellation of the concert,” Jordan’s chapter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement said, as one of several groups behind the joint statement.

Demonstrators hold a banner that says “Boycott Israel”, during the pro-palestinian demonstration against the organization of the pro-Israel gala “Israel is Forever” in Paris (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Describing Petra as a site that should never serve the interests of a Bocelli supporter, BDS Jordan added, “It is unacceptable for Petra – one of the most iconic sites in Jordan and the Arab world – to become a platform for someone who has raised funds for the occupation army.”

Marking three decades of his career, the tenor’s “Romanza” world tour will bring him to the venue on November 27.

According to corporate news outlet Travel News Group, Souha Bawab, who heads the organizing association as executive director, described the event as an opportunity to “showcase Jordan to the world.”

Cultural and heritage tourism would be bolstered by the concert, Bawab added, since it would help “reinforce its status as a destination that combines heritage and cultural experiences.”

Carved into rock of a distinctive rose hue, the monumental temples of Petra have earned it recognition from UNESCO as a World Heritage site, making it one of Jordan’s foremost draws for visitors from abroad.