Boy George hailed ‘hero’ for defying cultural boycott to perform in Israel

When cheers erupted at a packed Tel Aviv stadium for Boy George, it was not only a sign of the 65-year-old singer’s enduring fame.

It was the sound of national delight at an international pop star willing to perform in an increasingly isolated Israel.

A smattering of Israeli flags dotted the crowd as the flamboyant Culture Club frontman took the stage in a sequinned jacket for Wednesday’s sold-out performance with a simple greeting of “Shalom!” The British singer is one of the few international...