Elton John. Photo: Thomas Waleczka.

British star Elton John has vowed to defy calls for a cultural boycott of Israel, telling a crowd at a concert in Ramat Gan that pro-Palestinian campaigners “ain’t gonna stop me from coming here, baby.” John told a cheering audience of 50,000: “That is what we do. We do not cherry-pick our consciences, OK?” Several bands and artists have cancelled performances in Israel, including Elvis Costello and the Pixies.