Musicians with heart: Peter Gabriel joins Stewart Copeland and Rick Allen in new album to benefit Palestinian charities

© AP/Jeff Christensen

Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel, former The Police star Stewart Copeland and Def Leppard's Rick Allen are among the stars who have contributed to a new album to benefit Palestinian charities.

Gabriel and Copeland collaborated on Across The River for the 2 Unite project, which will raise funds to support the surgical and medical teams of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and Project Peace On Earth.

Gabriel says, "We have watched the Palestinians subjected to more and more suffering for far too long, especially in Gaza. Meanwhile, their long-held land is repeatedly stolen by force for illegal settlements."

However, he insists his participation in the album does not mean he is anti-Israel, Palestine's longtime foe.

The human rights stalwart adds, "I am not, and never have been, anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic; I am anti-Israeli government policy, anti-injustice, anti-oppression and anti-occupation."

Copeland also teamed up with System Of A Down star Serj Tankian on the track Spinning Mysteries At The Sacred Grove.

The drummer adds, "Helping to rebuild the lives of Palestinians in Gaza is a necessary and noble worldwide humanitarian prerogative that we must not shy away from. It's the least we can do for a people that have suffered under an occupation, embargo and invasion."