ISRAELI musician Omar Sa’ad, who hit the headlines when he refused to serve in the country's army, is playing two concerts in Worcestershire this week.

Omar, aged 18, formed the Galilee String Quartet with his two violinist brothers and their cellist sister, who hail from the village of Maghar in northern Isreal

The concerts are part of an English tour which and form the first performances by Omar since he was released from prison for his opposition to joining the Israel Defense Forces.

The Sa’ad family are from the Druze minority in Israel, and though Arab citizens of Israel are exempt from compulsory service in the military, Druze are not. Over the years, many young Druze have refused to serve in the Israeli military on conscientious grounds.

Omar said: "I am a musician. I play for peace and justice. How could I carry a gun rather than my viola? I refuse to take an assault rifle and point it at another human being. I abhor this violence and everything connected to violence.

“As an Arab Druze I consider myself part of the Palestinian people - so how can I be part of the army that occupies my people?”

The tour is being supported by Amnesty International.

The Galilee Quartet is appearing at St George’s Catholic Church, Sansome Place, Worcester , on Thursday, October 2, and at the Friends Meeting House, Cowl Street, Evesham, the next day. Both concerts are free, start at 7pm and will be followed by question-and-answer sessions.