French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard has canceled his participation in the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival due to “circumstances beyond his control,” festival organizers said on Monday.

Reuters reports Jean-Luc Godard canceled his previously scheduled trip to Israel after Palestinian group the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel urged him to boycott the event.

Godard had agreed to take part in the 12th annual Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival as an honorary guest. He was to hold master classes with Israeli film students.

Last week, the Palestinian group urged Godard in an open letter to “take a courageous stand and cancel your trip to Israel.”

“Did you ever go to an Afrikaner film festival in apartheid South Africa? Why Israel, then?” the letter said, as quoted by Reuters. The document was entitled “Le petit soldat dancing on Palestinian graves,” a reference to Godard’s 1963 film “Le Petit Soldat” (“The Little Soldier”).

A source close to Godard’s office cited political pressure for the 77-year-old French-Swiss filmmaker’s reason to cancel the visit. The source declined public comment.

Festival organizers said on Monday Godard had cancelled his participation, citing “circumstances beyond his control.” They said they were disappointed he had decided not to come but that they respected his choice.

Filmmakers Sarah Polley, John Sayles and Julio Medem are still expected to attend the festival, unraveling May 31 - June 7.