Rod Stewart. Photo: Joe Bielawa via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – British rock legend Rod Stewart touched down at Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport on Tuesday, ahead of his highly anticipated performance on Wednesday in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park.

Stewart last performed in Israel in 2010, at Ramat Gan stadium. The 72-year-old rocker’s latest show in the Jewish state comes as an unprecedented number of big-name artists line up to perform in the country this summer, an indication that the influence of the cultural boycott of Israel is waning. Anti-Israel activists had pressured Stewart to cancel his concert, but he did not respond to their petitions.

Late last year, the 72-year-old rocker announced his intention to play in Israel in a recorded statement, saying, “I’m looking forward to performing in Tel Aviv in June. I promise to deliver a fun, energetic show.”

He added, “I’ll be playing your favorite hits, with a few surprises too.”