Ringo Starr to Israel: 'I want to hold your hand'

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has announced that he will perform in Israel next June with his band as part of a 2018 European tour.

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band includes fellow rock legends Steve Lukather of Toto, Greg Rollie of Journey and Graham Gouldman of 10cc. The group will perform two shows at Tel Aviv's Menorath Mivtahim Arena from June 23-24, according to Starr's website.

Starr's concerts come more than 50 years after the Israeli government barred The Beatles from performing in Israel in 1966 over concerns that the band would negatively influence the Jewish state's youth. The government later apologized for the decision. Former Beatle Paul McCartney performed in Israel in 2008.

The announcement of Starr's Israel shows comes after the recent decision by New Zealand-born pop star Lorde to cancel her concert in Tel Aviv amid pressure from the anti-Israel BDS movement.

Former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters has been at the forefront of encouraging musicians and artists to boycott Israel. However, many artists have ignored him, including Radiohead, which performed in Tel Aviv in July, and Steve Vai, who will perform in Israel in March.