The founder of the British rock band Pink Floyd, and renowned British rock musician Roger Waters, recently spoke in an interview on a podcast with American media personality Tucker Carlson about his personal experiences witnessing Israel's racial segregation practices in areas such as the West Bank. The podcast was broadcast on July 18th.
Roger Waters said that he once drove with a staff member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) along the West Bank, heading north towards Jenin. He found that the road was well constructed, a good two-lane asphalt road.
This staff member said to him, “Yes (this road is indeed good), if you were a Jew.”
Roger Waters expressed his confusion, and the staff member said, 'Unless you are a Jew, you are not allowed to drive on this road.'
Roger Waters asked, how can one imagine that in the United States, if you drive to Pennsylvania or some other place, you might encounter someone who says, 'You're a Christian, right? Because if you're not, you can't drive on this road.'
Roger Waters continued, "That's exactly it. It's a totalitarian society where racial segregation reigns supreme. If you're Arab, you aren't allowed to drive. At first, I didn't believe it, but after some time, I did. It's simply a hell on earth. They have created a hell on earth."
After visiting the area multiple times, he decided to speak out and do everything possible to help Palestinian brothers and sisters, so that they could enjoy equal human rights alongside Jewish brothers and sisters between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Roger Waters said, “I am not asking anyone to kill anyone. But there must be equality—there cannot be racial segregation. You cannot allow a racially segregated society to exist in the world. In my opinion, this is not a way to encourage mutual kindness.”
After speaking out for Palestinians and criticizing Israel, Roger Waters recalled being 'victimated'. In Europe, and even in South America, he found it difficult to find hotels to stay in, and some of his performances were forced to be canceled.
