In Spain politics have interrupted partying, as organizers of an international reggae festival have canceled a concert by the Jewish-American entertainer Matisyahu due to his silence on the issue of a Palestinian state.

Charging the 36-year-old Orthodox Jew with being anti-Palestinian, a local branch of the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement has successfully campaigned against Matisyahu's performance in the town of Benicassim.

As reported by The Associated Press, organizers of the Rototom Sunsplash took to their Facebook page to announce they had canceled the Aug. 22 concert because Matisyahu had failed to declare his stance "regarding the war and in particular the right of the Palestinian people to have their own state."

Matisyahu went on Facebook to explain the situation to his fans, writing, "The festival organizers contacted me because they were getting pressure from the BDS movement. They wanted me to write a letter, or make a video, stating my positions on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to pacify the BDS people.”

Matisyahu said that he supports peace and compassion for all people and that his music speaks for itself. “I do not insert politics into my music,” he wrote, adding, “Honestly it was appalling and offensive, that as the one publicly Jewish-American artist scheduled for the festival they were trying to coerce me into political statements.”

The organizers of Rototom Sunsplash said that the festival has always supported the Palestinian people's rights and that they regret that Matisyahu was no longer part of the summer event. A public statement offered that the organizers did not drop Matisyahu because of his “Hebrew roots” or because he was a “Zionist,” but because they felt that it was inappropriate to organize a concert event that “would certainly generate a conflict."