Palestine supporters picketed a performance by folk-rock singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright in Southport in north-west England on Saturday night in protest at her plans to perform two concerts in Israel.

Southport and Formby Friends of Palestine displayed a banner illustrating “Expanding Israel — Disappearing Palestine” at Southport’s Atkinson theatre.

They leafleted passers-by and concert-goers with a letter to Martha Wainwright appealing to her to support the cultural boycott of Israel and cancel her concerts there on November 6 and 7.

The activists wrote to Atkinson theatre management asking them not to book artists who perform in Israel.

Campaigner Peter Reilly wrote: “The only peaceful pressure on Israel to respect international law is to apply a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) policy.

“In furtherance of this, numerous international musicians have cancelled their performances in Israel, including Cassandra Wilson, Elvis Costello, Faithless, Gil Scott-Heron, Cat Power, Stanley Jordan and many others.

“Other artists, such as Macy Gray and Meshell Ndegeocello, who did perform in Israel have since expressed regret after learning of the political situation there.

“The Israeli Ministry of Tourism facilitates tours for artists, as part of generating photo-ops to be used in international marketing campaigns. A cultural boycott is called for by Palestinian performing arts organisations as well as human rights groups around the world.

“I therefore request that you convey this message of the cultural boycott of Israel to Martha Wainwright and, in future, that you consider artists’ intentions to perform in Israel before booking them to perform in Southport.”