Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello has pulled out of two concerts scheduled for June 30th and July 1st in Tel Aviv, Israel because of what he called the "grave and complex" tension in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "It is after considerable contemplation that I have lately arrived at the decision that I must withdraw from the two performances," Costello said in a statement on his website. He added: "there are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung ...". Costello joins Santana and Gil Scott-Heron in cancelling shows in the country.