[Palestinian] Terror threat: We'll kill Madonna

By GORDON SMART and MARTEL MAXWELL The Sun May 24, 2005

www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004240450,00.html

MADONNA has axed three gigs in Israel - after terrorists threatened to kill
her and her kids.

The singer was terrified by a blitz of poison-pen letters.

Madge "freaked out" when she learned of a terrorist plot to kill her two
young children if she performed in Israel.

She first planned to defy the extremists but cancelled after the unnamed
Palestinian group mentioned details about Lourdes, seven, and three-year-old
Rocco in a series of threatening letters.

A source said: "The notes were unbelievably scary. Madonna is a strong woman
but she freaked out when her kids were mentioned.

"At first she was prepared to go on stage anyway and hire extra security.

"But she was not ready to take chances with her kids - they are her whole
world."

The threats were sent to the singer's offices in Los Angeles.

They became more frightening as they displayed in-depth knowledge of the
star's closest aides.

Worried ... Madonna holds Rocco yesterday

The source added: "It became clear that these people were not messing
around - they even knew intimate details like who her personal staff are.

"She thought she was being targeted because of her Jewish Kabbalah religion.
But this group were threatening her because she represents many things they
hate about the West."

Madonna, married to Brit film director GUY RITCHIE, has not performed in
Israel since her 1993 Girlie Show.

She had booked three dates in September at the Tel Aviv stadium - including
a televised concert on September 11 to mark the third anniversary of
al-Qaeda's attacks on America.

Madonna's people last night insisted the Israel leg of her Re-Invention tour
has been cancelled because the singer wants to concentrate on Europe.

But insiders say nothing except this security alert would have stopped her
travelling to Tel Aviv.