Madonna parades into Israel on tour (From Haringey Independent)

Madonna parades into Israel on tour

10:35am Friday 1st June 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Madonna cheered on her own arrival as she kicked off her MDNA world tour in Israel dressed as a cheerleader.

The 53-year-old showed off her bulging biceps and toned physique in a variety of outfits, including a cheerleader's uniform and an updated version of her famous Jean Paul Gaultier coned corset.

Madonna told the 35,000-strong crowd in Tel Aviv: "I chose to start my world tour in Israel for a very specific and important reason."

"You can't be a fan of mine and not want peace in the world, we all bleed the same colour," she added, as the crowd cheered wildly.

"If we can all rise above our egos and our titles and the names of our countries and our religions, and treat everyone around us with dignity and respect, then we are on the road to peace. If there is peace here in the Middle East, there can be peace in the whole world."

Madonna reportedly donated 580 tickets to her show to members of both the Israeli and Palestinian peace camps, but not all of them were accepted.

She was joined on stage by her 11-year-old son Rocco, whose father is British director Guy Ritchie, who performed with her backing dancers dressed in a number of outfits including a monk's habit and a sparkly vest teamed with large headphones.

The show began with church bells and Catholic imagery on screen before the sound of Hebrew prayer hailed the arrival of devout Kabbalah follower Madonna on stage inside a confessional. She shot her way out through the glass of the confessional with a rifle and burst into her hit Girl Gone Wild.

This is Madonna's ninth world tour. She will next head to Abu Dhabi and then to Europe and the Americas before finishing in Australia in early 2013.