But ramifications of Israel's attacks on Gaza-bound aid flotilla continue to reverberate around the world, which has resulted in some international artistes boycotting Israel.

Several musicians have canceled scheduled concerts in Israel, citing their anger over Israel's deadly attacks.

The Pixies, an American alternative rock band, and two lesser known bands billed to play at the same festival - the Klaxons and the Gorillaz Sound System - have most recently canceled shows there. 

This prompted Shuki Weiss, one of Israel's premier promoters and production managers, who said he had been working to bring the Pixies to Israel for more than 10 years.  He called the boycott "cultural terrorism."

These are the latest in a string of high-profile artistes who have canceled performances in Israel this spring, including the British rocker Elvis Costello, American rap poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron and the American guitarist Carlos Santana.

Explaining his decision not to play in Israel, Costello wrote on his Web site that it was a matter "of instinct and conscience."

"...Then there are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent," he wrote.
 
Obama's meeting with Abbas resulted in the White House announcement that the US would send $400 million of aid to the occupied Palestinian territories. 

Only about $70 million of this represents a new commitment, while US annual aide to Israel is estimated between $3 and $12 billion - the latter includes military aide and hardware.

White House officials said the additional money for the Palestinians would be spent on housing, schools, efforts to provide access to drinking water and other health and infrastructure projects.