R&B star Missy Elliott arrived in Israel on Wednesday despite mass pressure from anti-Israel groups urging the rapper/singer to cancel her gig.

In recent months following the fateful flotilla clash between a Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla and the IDF, pro-Palestinian pressure has caused Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana, and bands the Pixies and the Gorillaz to cancel their scheduled appearances in the holy land. Actors Meg Ryan and Dustin Hoffman also canceled their recently scheduled visits.

Missy Elliot, who is the only woman rapper to have 6 platinum albums and says she is 'just not a political person,' arrives just as Israel is amidst another standoff with an aid ship trying to run its blockade on Gaza.

Her concert takes place in Tel-Aviv on Thursday night, and rumor has it that she also has plans to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea during her two-day stay.

Last month the legendary Elton John was ecstatically welcomed by Israeli fans when he performed in Tel Aviv. During the concert, John reinforced the Israeli audience saying: "No one could stop me from coming... Our job [as musicians] is not to cherry-pick our conscience."

According to the AFP, Israel's television hailed him as a "single righteous artist in a sea of boycotters."

Coincidentally, soon after Missy Elliot arrived in Israel, (bringing her two dogs with her) a statement was released from former Sex Pistols front-man, Johnny Rotten saying that he would not cancel his August 31 show in Tel-Aviv and that he would not let "the political powers-that-be" dictate his audience.

Other performers who have not caved to international anti-Israel sentiment are Diana Krall (wife of singer Elvis Costello,) and Ozzy Osbourne who is scheduled to perform in Tel-Aviv in September.