POLITICS, POETRY & SATIRE
They shot the child in her innocent beauty
said she was a human shield
she made them do it they said
yet she was just a child.
They shot the mother who held the child
her womb a demographic threat
she made them do it they said
yet she was only a mother.
They shot the boy who ran from them
said his stones were missiles
he made them do it they said
his face blazes at them still.
Sylvia Posadas, July 2014.
Another show in apartheid Tel Aviv which has been cancelled since Israel’s Operation Protective Edge attack of the captive people of Gaza commenced on July 8 is Brian Jonestown Massacre.
The band’s performance was due yesterday, 15 July. They cancelled at the very last minute on Monday, 14 July.
The group was split right in the middle, described as:
“…group pulled a mutiny at the last moment “
@hott2012 by group pulled a mutiny at the last moment as I have said – now after a stressful day,after 52 shows pizza pic.twitter.com/6cuFm9cYbc
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) July 14, 2014
“Joel rob and Matt decided to bail on it today at the last minute and stick me with the hassles and blame like fake friends do”
@hott2012 well Joel rob and Matt decided to bail on it today at the last minute and stick me with the hassles and blame like fake friends do
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) July 14, 2014
Clearly Anton Newcombe attempts to obscure the cancellation, saying:
“…like I said by going on about it you just give free attention to sneaky cowards that fuck their so called friends”
@hott2012 @mirandafrum but like I said by going on about it you just give free attention to sneaky cowards that fuck their so called friends
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) July 14, 2014
“…it’s kind of like the more I talk about it just now the more publicity I throw on the self righteous.”
Which suggests the cancellation was at least partially implicitly in protest against the Israeli actions against the people of Gaza.
@hott2012 it's kind of like the more I talk about it just now the more publicity I throw on the self righteous.
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) July 14, 2014
Anton Newcombe blames his his band members:
“…I didn’t cancel it, members of my group said they were not going at the last minute like pussies so get your facts straight”
@mirandafrum I didn't cancel it,members of my group said they were not going at the last minute like pussies so get your facts straight
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) July 14, 2014
According to band member, Matt Hollywood:
“We expressed concerns, were ignored. Felt it was inappropriate to go.”
https://twitter.com/Matt_Hollywood1/status/489352348784160768
It should be noted that even Neil Young probably cancelled partially at least because of the boycott, as the stage and fencing were not built, which suggests he had no intention to play but allowed Israel to manipulate the reasons.
Since Israel initiated its current belligerence against the people of Gaza, business is not booming in the Zionist state. Acccording to Haaretz, “Manufacturing, retail, advertising and tourism have all been hit hard.” Retail sales are down by 70%, and travel agents are reporting drops of 30-60% in reservations. One Israeli citizen has been killed.
As at July 15, Israel has slaughtered 195 people of Gaza, including 111 civilians, 38 children and 45 undetermined non-civilians, according to OCHA.
The most recent murders of Palestinians perpetrated by Israel are four Palestinian children from the same family as they played on the beach in Gaza. The children are Ahed Bakr, 10, Zakaria Bakr, 10, Mohd Bakr, 11, and Ismail Bakr, 9.
Gazan civil society has issued an urgent call to the international community to intensify the boycott against Israel at this time.
We insist on international action:
– Severance of diplomatic ties with Israel
– Trials for war crimes
– Immediate International protection of the civilians of Gaza
We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign to hold this rogue state to account that is proving once again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians do not have to grow up amidst this relentless murder and destruction by the Israeli regime. When we can move freely, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the world’s Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.
Co-authored with Yael Kahn
After investigating the Palestinian-led call to boycott, divest and sanction Israel, US rapper artist Talib Kweli announced on twitter that he would respect BDS. Kweli was supposed to appear in an international hip-hop, funk and groove festival planned for mid-August at Hadera.
“As much as I want to play Israel, I have decided not to in solidarity with Palestinians who will not have access to my show. After days of discussions with many, I’ve decided to try & visit Israel & Palestine with those who fight to end the state of apartheid rather than use my art to force the issue on those who would rather not deal with it.”
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484157171332960257
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484157612817010688
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484157780257828864
Further, Kweli added:
“at the end of the day, whether I agree with boycott or not, it is my duty to respect it as a tactic. Hopefully it works…”
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484384292793896961
Kweli, who is well-known for the political content of his work, proved unresponsive to the usual calls from Israel’s propagandists that ‘music isn’t political’ and that ‘music is above politics’.
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484372093883015168
Other Israeli hasbara agents wondered why Talib would support the Palestinian-led boycott but not boycott Russia or the US.
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484356303980998656
Talib identified three main reasons why he decided to support BDS:
(1) Discussions with members of DAM, Palestinian Israeli rap group.
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484383577610539008
(2) ‘the responses on twitter from BDS supporters were compassionate, measured, informed an respectful for the most part’
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484383811149365248
(3) ‘reading abt Paul Simon recording Graceland in SA in defiance of boycott & how he thought Mandela was a terrorist back then…’
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484384012828278784
Ultimately, Kweli decided “being in solidarity with those who live it would be a stronger statement…”
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484351043308748800
Talib Kweli’s thoughtful, principled solidarity with Palestinians and their call for boycott of Israel is deeply appreciated, particularly at this time when Israel is engaged in a racist rampage of collective punishment against Palestinians, incited by Israeli leaders.
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/484367953526153217
Le rappeur américain Talib Kweli Greene annule son concert en apartheid Israël
In the Australian Parliament, Senator Nick Xenophon describes in detail why the Palestinian Territories are indeed occupied according to international law, also highlighting that Israel’s own highest court stated in 2004 Israel holds the Territories in belligerent occupation.
Xenophon Smashes Brandis-Abbott Spin On Occupied Palestine
Senator Nick Xenophon’s speech to the Australian Senate on Palestine: Abbott government spin on Palestine is “factually untrue, legally ignorant and most unhelpful”
Mariza sang in Ashdod, which before all its Palestinian inhabitants were expelled to Gaza by invading Israelis in 1948, was called Isdud or Asdoud. Israeli forces surrounded the town during Operation Pleshet, shelling and bombing it from the air. For three nights from the 18th October, the Israeli Air Force bombed Isdud. With the exception of its two schools, its crumbling mosque, and one of its shrines, Isdud was obliterated when Israel occupied it in on the 28th October, 1948. Most of the Palestinians who were driven from their homes then are corralled by Israel’s apartheid fence in Gaza now, only 40 kms (25 miles) south of their homes in Isdud. Along with their descendants, they are besieged and subjected to ongoing collective punishment by Israel.
The Mediterranean festival illustrates the disingenuous sanitization of Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated against Palestinians, through the appropriation of Mediterranean culture and music. Similarly, Israel subsumes Palestinian and Mediterranean food like falafel, hummus and couscous.
When on Saturday 25th May, Mariza appeared in Lisboa as the musician headlining the UEFA Champions League opening ceremony, she later celebrated having a photo with Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo. Perhaps she will have another opportunity to learn from him why Ronaldo has expressed his support for Palestinians, such as raising money from the sale of sports shoes by his club’s charity foundation for schools in Gaza through auction, and though belated she will realise she should have not performed in Israel and will refrain from returning.
Co-authored by Yael Kahn
