Sir Paul McCartney brought the spirit of the Beatles to Israel last night – 43 years after the group was banned from performing in the country.

The 66-year-old singer wowed crowds in Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park as the Jewish state prepared to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

The concert, which featured a host of Beatles songs, took place amid tight security following apparent threats to Sir Paul's safety. But the singer showed no sign of fear as he addressed the crowd in Hebrew.

The Beatles were banned by Israel in 1965 because the country's government feared that their music would corrupt young citizens.

But the ban was lifted this year by Israel's ambassador to the UK, who called it a “misunderstanding”.

Speaking before the cocnert, Sir Paul said he hoped that he would help bring “a message of peace and love” by performing in the Middle East.

The singer has spent much of 2008 playing concerts in locations he has never visited before.

(by Jason Gregory)