Cultural Boycott fail :"We play music, and we carry a message of peace and love"

The  "B" in BDS must stand for bullying.  Any artist that dares perform in Israel- any store that dares sell products from Israel opens themselves up to endless bullying.  Some, sadly  give in to the bullying. But most resist.

This wonderful open letter originally appeared on the blog of Christopher Deghelt of Deghelt Productions -a booking and management agency for Jazz artists and was addressed  to Mr. Dror Warschawski a French BDS activist.  The English translation  by Talia Shulman Gold is here, the Creative Community for Peace website.

[Mr. Deghelt replies to letter from Mr. Warshawshi, of The BDS Campaign in France]

As I pointed out to you over the telephone, we do not agree with your "pressure tactics on artists," or your Cultural Boycott.  We refuse to be made into instruments, and we won't give in to your pressure, whether by email, by mail, by telephone or on Facebook.

Performing in Israel does not mean we approve of the Israeli government or its politics, and it doesn't mean we don't understand the turmoil and the suffering of the Palestinian population.  Your attempt to railroad artists into a black-and-white dilemma is intellectually dishonest.  To allege that by performing at the Red Sea Jazz Festival we are supporting the Israeli government, or that by cancelling our concert we'll be showing our compassion towards the Palestinian people, demonstrates an extremely reductive attitude. We refuse to be placed in either category.

1)    Jacky hasn't performed in Israel for more than 15 years and many of his fans are elated by his impending arrival.  We love human beings, whether they are Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish or Muslim, and we will always perform for humankind.  We don't segregate our audience or our fans.

2)    We are apolitical, we play music, and we carry a message of peace and love. The Israeli-Palestine conflict is extremely complex. We disapprove all acts of violence on both sides and are profoundly saddened by this conflict and its tragic consequences.

3)    If the Eilat Festival is financed in part by the Israeli government, it demonstrates their openness towards culture and jazz, which only benefits the examination of cultures in general.  A dictatorship would not invite foreign artists, quite the reverse.  Jacky's fans in Israel are like all other jazz fans, humane, pacifist and hoping for peace in this part of the world.  They are your best allies and yet you seem to want to punish them.  Moreover, the Eilat Festival is an international festival recognized for its quality and its openness to the world.

4)    Boycotting this festival sends an unjust message to the Israeli population as a whole, to our fans and to our friends, and stigmatizes a population and a country instead of contributing something peaceful and sending a message of hope. We are free to express our convictions in Israel and I've spoken about this to the Festival organizers.  Let's push your reasoning to its conclusion.  Assuming no foreign artist appeared in Israel and the jazz festival ceased to exist...who would win? What would happen to the openness, the freedom, and the chance to present a different culture? What would happen to expressing our opinions?  What about the arts policy in Iran, Syria, and Mali today?  No more foreign artists.  Is this your sense of openness and dialogue?

5)    You say that certain Palestinians won't be able to attend Jacky's concert and that is indeed very sad; we would be happy to play in Palestine, if ever invited (this still hasn't been the case).  We are not responsible for this situation and can only deplore it.  The road to a better world is a long one.

6)    We concur with Erik Truffaz in his response to you: if we had to agree with the politics of the countries inviting us to perform, we wouldn't have many places in which to perform.  Our mission lies elsewhere, in music and the hopes of carrying a message of peace and tolerance to the people of our planet.

7)    Your activism and your intolerance are abominable.  Phony Facebook "fans" have posted messages expressly asking our musicians not play in Israel.  This is sheer harassment.  Moreover, it's really quite surprising because these fans purporting to sway the artists are not fans at all, but simply your army of little soldiers polluting the calm and positive spaces of our artists'Facebook pages.

8)    During our phone conversation, you insinuated quite slyly that you were a big fan of Jacky Terrasson, that you used to buy his records and attend his concerts, but that you would think twice about it now, knowing he plays for Israel.  Your questionable words, like the tone of your last email, won't change our convictions.  I don't believe for an instant that you are a fan of Jacky Terrasson.

9)    What bothers me the most about your effort...is your hatred of Israel, a pathological hatred, blind and most assuredly hidden behind a veil of "political correctness."  Your actions don't demonstrate a love or defense of Palestinians but rather a hatred for Israelis. At one time, we knew full well in what direction such madness had driven our world.  You are an anti-Zionist and deceitfully and paradoxically an anti-Semite (you, the grandson of a rabbi renowned for his humanistic views). You hide this under the pretext of representing a humanitarian organization, under the pretext of being a defender of justice.

10)    When Stanley Jordan, the Portico Quartet, cancelled their concert at the Red Sea Jazz Festival, it was their choice, which we respect.  Some of our artists refuse to perform in Israel.  Those are their political convictions, we live in a democracy, and we sincerely respect all opinions.  Well then, respect ours as well.  We believe we can be more useful by being invited to play for the people of Israel, than by refusing to perform in a country of whose government's decisions we disapprove.   Jacky Terrasson is free to draw his own opinion, after his arrival.  Don't force people to think what you would like them to think...this is intellectual tyranny and manipulation, the same tyranny and manipulation you attribute to Israel's rulers.

11)    Palestine needs international support, positive actions and peace, and it's not by advocating violence (both intellectual and verbal) and intolerance that you'll help Palestine.  I myself have been to Ramallah to produce a free concert featuring Shakti, which the U.N supports.  We helped finance a school of music for children victimized by the war.  These are positive actions, non-violent, meaningful and humane.  Pitting both sides against each other is not striving towards peace; it is adding fuel to the fire.

12)    In my agency, I represent Muslim artists, Israeli artists, and people of many different religions and nationalities.  My office is a place of tolerance, peace and dialogue. I have produced more than 3000 concerts in the world, and it's the first time I have received such obnoxious letters.  You, a man of science, you should stick to the rigors of analysis instead of engaging in an open battle with artists.

I will end by quoting Koffi Annan who said, "Tolerance is a virtue that makes peace possible."

Very cordially yours,

Christophe Deghelt

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are coming to Israel!

From the Red Hot Chili Peppers:

"I would like to announce our huge JOY and PLEASURE and Excitement and the THRILL we have to come to Israel for the very first time."

BDS fail. BDS fail. BDS fail. BDS fail.

"We've always had a great love for Israel"

BDS fail. Threats fail. Intimidation fail

WE'RE COMING TO TEL-AVIV!! from shuki weiss on Vimeo.

The BDS cru put a huge amount of pressure on the Chili Peppers, but the group did not waver. Anti-Israel lobbyists desperately spammed their message of hate across list serves, facebook and Twitter, urging people to bombard the Chili peppers. The haters were even provided with per-packaged tweets and messages:

"Will you tell The Red Hot Chili Peppers to cancel their trip to Israel?

We are asking BDS supporters to get the word out and tell Anthony, Flea, Chad and Josh of The Red Hot Chili Peppers to cancel their September 10, 2012 performance in Israel! See the letter urging them to respect Palestinian rights and not cross the international picket line: http://boycottisrael.info/content/israeli-citizens-red-hot-chili-peppers-please-cancel-your-tel-aviv-gig

Tweet the BDS message or post it to their facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/ChiliPeppers.
Read Boycott From Within’s Tali Shapiro’s personal appeal for cancellation here.
PLEASE TWEET OFTEN. SHARE THIS ACTION ALERT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
Use the sample tweets below or write your own.
Click “tweet now!” below the samples for automatic tweeting.
Dont entertain Israeli oppression @chilipeppers cancel ur gig & stand up for human rights http://bit.ly/HytCIs #BDS #Palestine
tweet now!
Join AliceWalker, ElvisCostello, AngelaDavis, RogerWaters & more on the right side of history @chilipeppers http://bit.ly/HytCIs #BDS
tweet now!
Denied the right to travel to Tel Aviv, Palestinians cant be “Standing in line to see the show tonight” @chilipeppers #BDS
tweet now!
How long, how long will they slide? #Israel Walls&Settlements separate the WestBank side @chilipeppers Cancel ur gig on the Otherside #BDS tweet now!
We cant fly away on your Zephyr bc #Israel controls all Palestinian movement. Take a stand for EQUAL rights! @chilipeppers #BDS
tweet now!"

Incidentally, Hillel Slovak the original guitarist and founding member of the band was born in Haifa, Israel.

Deep Purple: Only Wimps Cancel Concerts In Israel

From Haaretz:

Ahead of their third Israeli tour, English rock band Deep Purple took a stand against other musicians who cancel their concerts in Israel due to politics, saying artists should not take sides in political conflicts, with drummer Ian Paice calling these musicians "real wimps."

The band spoke at a press conference Wednesday ahead of two concerts they are due to perform in Caesarea on Saturday and Sunday. This visit is Deep Purple's third Israeli tour. The last time they visited was in 2008, when they played four concerts to full crowds of cheering fans.

Deep Purple's vocalist Ian Gillen stressed to reporters that musicians should remain impartial in political disputes, and likened this to making the assumption that Deep Purple supported all of Tony Blair's policies because they gave a concert in London ten years ago.

Imagine Deep Purple playing "Smoke on the water" in the Caesarera Amphitheatre, overlooking the sea. Hmmm. Thats the stuff rock legends are made of.

So, Omar, Hows that cultural boycott coming along?

Duran Duran to play Tel Aviv concert

Tel Aviv by Duran Duran.

The afternoon, it's one maybe two
Sipping away my last goldstar, not so much to do
Dream away the sunny day until it's time to leave
I'll just watch you pass on by
When I'm on my own in Tel Aviv

With the blocks to one side
The beach on the other
And the trees and the leaves
On my own in Tel Aviv
And the trees and the leaves
On my own in Tel Aviv

From the Daily Jews
Lead singer Simon LeBon is no stranger to Israel. In the late 70s, before he went to university, he spent some time working on a kibbutz which is said to have inspired him to write Tel Aviv. “I have an affection for the country,” le Bon has commented.

Duran Duran will be coming to Tel Aviv this summer, joining musicians Roxette, Moby, Suede, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan, in playing for people, not governments. The iconic British rockers will perform on July 30 2011 at the Tel Aviv fairground.

This will be Duran Duran’s second visit to Israel. They first performed in Tel Aviv and Haifa in 1994.

So, Omar, hows that cultural boycott going, btw?

Kiss my BDS!

AP Interview: Simmons Blasts Israel Boycotters

"They're fools,"declared Kiss' Israeli-born singer-musician Gene Simmons describing the BDS'ers targeting his homeland.

Simmons described his visit to Israel as a "homecoming". "I'm Israeli. I'm a stranger in America. I'm an outsider," he said, speaking in a hotel lobby across a valley from the walls of Jerusalem's historic Old City. "I was born here and I'm proud of it."

Simmons, who was born Chaim Witz and is fluent in Hebrew, , will arrive with his family to shoot episodes for the "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels" reality show.

In other BDS epic fail news, legendary punk band Echo and the Bunnymen, due to play in Israel next month, deleted and banned the BDS'ers swamping their facebook page. Its about time!

So, hows that boycott going?