Stevie Wonder has pulled out of a concert in support of the Friends of the Israel Defence Forces, saying "I am and have always been against war, any war, anywhere."
The soul singer was due to perform at the Los Angeles event later this week and said he stepped down from the event with a "heavy heart."
He said the United Nations had recommended he cancelled his performance as it clashed with his position as an official UN Messenger of Peace.
The singer of smash hits such 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' had come under intense pressure after announcing his intention to perform at the event, which was organised to raise money for Israeli soldiers and their families.
Online petitions called on Wonder to “(p)lease continue your legacy of speaking out for the oppressed. Please be a ‘full-time lover’ of justice by standing on the right side of history and canceling your performance for the Israeli army.”
Earlier this week the UN overwhelmingly voted in favour of recognising enhanced Palestinian statehood on Thursday despite fierce US and Israeli objections.
The bid allows Palestine to join UN bodies, including the International Criminal Court. There are concerns that Palestine might use their enhanced status to pursue Israel for alleged war crimes, pushing back the peace process.
Middle East peace talks have stalled amid the recognition of Palestinian's observer status. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said President Abbas's bid for statehood amounted to "a gross violation of the agreements signed with the state of Israel", referring to peace pledges signed in the 1990s.
Israel has also stopped transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA), meaning a loss of around 60m shekels (£75m) to the authority in December alone.