YNetNews (www.ynetnews.com) has issued the following report from Ronen Zomer:

Metal giant MEGADETH to play in Israel as part of Metalist Festival 2005; group joins PHIL COLLINS and THE SCORPIONS in announcing Israeli tour date since Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire

By Ronen Zomer

Megadeth may have had it right all along – Peace Sells.

The metal rock group will play in Israel for the first time, officials said on Tuesday, marking the third top international performer to announce concert dates in Israel since Prime Minister Sharon and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas leaders declared an end to end a four years of violence.

Megadeth will take part of Israel’s annual Metalist Festival and play on June 22 at the Hangar 11 club in Tel Aviv, event managers confirmed.

The festival will also feature performances from 12 other heavy metal bands from Israel and around the world. Tickets are expected to go on sale May 5.

METALLICA rivalry:

Megadeth was formed in 1983 after guitarist Dave Mustaine quit rival metal band Metallica, creating a long-time rivalry between the groups. Megadeth rose to fame in the ‘90s with hits like ‘Countdown To Extinction’, ‘Peace Sells’, ‘Rust In Peace’ and ‘Youthanasia’.

The group disbanded in 2002 when Mustaine underwent a nerve operation in his hand. But the group reunited in 2004 and released one of the band's most successful albums, entitled The System Has Failed.

Renewed interest:

Several international artists have canceled concerts in Israel throughout the past four years since the start of the al-Aqsa intifada in September 2000.

But some have expressed interest in performing here after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas declared a truce in February, and after a sharp decline in anti-Israeli attacks over the past year as a result of tough military action against terrorist leaders in the West Bank and Gaza.

German rock group The Scorpions are scheduled to play in Israel in July and British pop artist Phil Collins will perform in the fall.