Comic had received flak from both sides

John Cleese has pulled his performances in Israel later this month.

The Fawlty Towers star says he axed the gigs amid fears for his safety, but has promised to rescheduled. 

However, the local company promoting the four shows in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Alon Yurik Productions, had previously claimed the comic had caved into demands from campaigners who demand a boycott of Israel over its actions in Gaza.

Cleese had scheduled gigs in Israel while being critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – a position which attracting criticism from both sides, with some saying he was amplifying ‘Hamas propagandists’, and others suggesting he was a ‘fascist apologist’.

On social media yesterday, Cleese said that he was rescheduling the gigs ‘following advice about safety’, adding: 'At 86, that is obviously all important.’

‘I will arrange these shows as soon as it is possible, he said. ‘And I would be happy to perform without receiving a fee. I am hugely fond of Israeli audiences and send my sincere apologies to all those who bought tickets.’

It came after Alon Yurik Productions said Cleese was cancelling his visit following threats from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

‘We regret that John Cleese gave in to threats from the BDS organisations and that is after all the tickets for his shows were sold out long ago,’ they wrote in a statement.

Cleese has  previously performed in Israel, and was originally due to Play Date on this tour in  June, but postponed them to run from November 26 to December 1  following the war with Iran.

It all comes as John Cleese Packs It In, a documentary filmed around his current tour, hits UK cinemas tomorrow.

Published: 12 Nov 2025