Recording artist LEONARD COHEN is at the centre of heated dispute about whether International acts should perform in ISRAEL.

The Canadian singer had planned to do a concert for a Palestinian audience in the West Bank and a second concert for Israelis in Tel Aviv in September.

But the plan is now in tatters with some pro-Palestinian groups condemning Cohen for agreeing to perform in Israel at all.

These groups have been pushing for all international artists to boycott Israel because of on-going human rights abuses against Palestinians.

Israel is currently the subject of a UN inquiry into allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

2SER's Cale Bain spoke with Michael Shaik from "Australians for Palestine".