Why did The Beatles never perform in Israel?
Did The Beatles ever come to Israel? Despite plans at the height of Beatlemania to bring the Fab Four to Israel, only two of them would ever make it, albeit decades later.
Sixty years after the birth of Beatlemania in America, you may wonder what any of this has to do with Israel. When The Beatles were in New York in February 1964, Ringo Starr was asked what plans the group had for that year. He specifically mentioned upcoming concerts in Israel and South Africa.
Both shows were eventually canceled, and the closest Beatlemania ever came to our borders that year was when The Beatles flew from London to Hong Kong for a performance that was to kick off their tour to Australia and New Zealand.
Their BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) airliner landed at Beirut Airport to refuel. There, they were met by hundreds of young Beatles fans who tried to storm the plane. The local police actually found it necessary to use fire-fighting foam to hold the crowds back. Afterward, the aircraft was able to leave without any further incident.
Source: HOWIE KAHN/jpost.com
