Leonard Cohen to donate concert profits

JERUSALEM, July 31 (UPI) -- Leonard Cohen will donate all of his Israeli concert profits to a newly established fund for Palestinian and Israeli children, Israeli sponsors said.

A statement released by Bank Discount said the fund had yet to be named.

Tickets for Cohen's Reconciliation, Tolerance and Peace concert in Israel go on sale this weekend, the sponsors said Friday.

Cohen will perform Sept. 24 in Ramat Gan, just three days after his 75th birthday, the Yedioth Aharonoth paper said.

It is still unclear whether Cohen will perform for Palestinians in Ramallah. A scheduled performance Sept. 26 was postponed after the Palestinian Prisoners' Club Society said Cohen was not welcome. The International Solidarity movement said earlier this month a statement issued by the society said, "Ramallah will not receive Cohen as long as he is intent on whitewashing Israel's colonial apartheid regime by performing in Israel."

Cohen's production team arrived in Israel to finalize all the technical aspects of his three-hour performance, the Israeli sponsors said.

The singer will be accompanied by six musicians and three female backup singers on stage, the sponsors said. Ticket prices range from approximately $85 to $300.