Brian Eno Blocks Israeli Dance Company from using his music

Israeli Dance Company Batsheva has a routine called Humus. That piece is set to music taken from Brian Eno's 1993 work Neroli. This week, Batsheva was set to perform the work at Italy's Torino Danza Festival. However, upon learning that the Israeli Embassy was either sponsoring the event or the dance company, Eno decided to deny permission to Batsheva to use the piece. Upon declining permission, Eno wrote an open letter to the dance company explaining his reasons. You can see Eno's reasons in his open letter posted below.

Brian Eno Open Letter

Dear Ohad Naharin and the Batsheva company,
It has recently come to my attention that you have been using a piece of my music in a work called HUMUS.
I was not aware of this use until last week, and, though in one way I’m flattered that you chose my music for your work, I’m afraid it creates a serious conflict for me.
To my understanding, the Israeli Embassy (and therefore the Israeli government) will be sponsoring the upcoming performances, and, given that I’ve been supporting the BDS campaign for several years now, this is an unacceptable prospect for me. It’s often said by opponents of BDS that art shouldn’t be used as a political weapon. However, since the Israeli government has made it quite clear that it uses art in exactly that way – to promote ‘Brand Israel’ and to draw attention away from the occupation of Palestinian land – I consider that my decision to deny permission is a way of taking this particular weapon out of their hands.
Only a couple of days ago an Israeli army officer murdered 15 year old Mahmud Badran and it isn’t clear if he’ll even be criminally charged for it, let alone punished. And hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank are expected to go through another summer without reliable water services, while the demolition of Palestinian homes and confiscation of Palestinian land goes on without interruption, as it has done for many years now. There is no sign of any attempt to limit settler activity in any way.
I am trying to understand the difficulties that must face any Israeli artist now – and in particular ones like yourselves who have shown some sympathy to the Palestinian cause. I feel that your government exploits artists like you, playing on your natural desire to keep working — even if it does mean becoming part of a propaganda strategy. Your dance company might not be able to formally distance itself from the Israeli government but I can and will: I don’t want my music to be licensed for any event sponsored by the Israeli embassy.
I discussed this with my friend Ohal, an Israeli artist and another supporter of BDS, and I know that she and her Israeli BDS colleagues can understand the need for a boycott. As artists we should be free to choose to respond to the injustices of governments, yours or mine.
Yours sincerely,
Brian Eno