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TEL AVIV, Israel, June 1 (UPI) -- U.S. pop icon Madonna issued a call for peace in the Middle East during her concert at Israel's Ramat Gan Stadium. "If there is peace in the Middle East then there can be peace in the whole world," the Jerusalem Post quoted the singer as saying at Thursday night's show.
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"I chose to start my world tour in Israel for a very specific and important reason," she said. "All the conflicts that occur here [in the Middle East] and have been occurring here for thousands of years; they have to stop."
The Post said Madonna also spoke about her decision to give free tickets to left-wing members of Israeli and Palestinian non-governmental groups.
"There are several brave and important NGOs that are represented, both Palestine and Israel [here] together. You cannot be a fan of mine and not want peace in the world. We are all on different paths but we are all sons and daughters of the universe," Madonna said.
"We are all human beings. We all want to love and be loved. It is easy to say I want peace in the world. But it is another thing to do it. If we can all rise above our egos and our titles and the names of our countries and our religions. If we can rise above all of that and treat everyone around us -- every human being -- with dignity and respect, then we are on the road to peace."
The newspaper said Madonna gave a nod to her own Catholic upbringing, appearing at one point in what looked like a confessional booth while reciting the Act of Contrition, then later dancing along with performers dressed as priests and nuns. She also was seen pretending to shoot a man as she sat underneath a large cross and sang her song "Gang Bang."
Other songs she performed included "Express Yourself," "Like a Virgin" and "Like a Prayer."
