An Israeli club DJ who has helped make ethnic Arab music the hottest late-night trend in fashionable nightspots in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the 26-year-old Tel Avivian said to himself ‘if Arab music has become so popular among Israelis, then bringing Arab DJs to Israel will be even better.’
So last week, Einhorn made history of sorts by bringing together Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli DJs under one roof in Jerusalem in the name of coexistence and a common love of fusing together traditional Arab music with club rhythms.
Bridge For Peace featuring Einhorn, Palestinian DJ Khalil from Ramallah, and Jordanian DJ Kalice from Amman, drew over 800 people to Jerusalem’s bursting after-midnight dance club Haoman 17, where Israelis gyrated to the dizzying sounds of the ancient/modern music.
Source: [Israel 21C]
An Israeli club DJ who has helped make ethnic Arab music the hottest late-night trend in fashionable nightspots in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the 26-year-old Tel Avivian said to himself ‘if Arab music has become so popular among Israelis, then bringing Arab DJs to Israel will be even better.’ Why I am not surprised that this was not reported in the Jordanian press? I guess journalists shy away from covering these kinds of stories for fear of being labeled "normalizers." I believe these initiatives should be highlighted in the local and the international press as it shows that in spite of the bloody mayhem taking place in our region we can still co-exist peacefully and even create music.
From the Jordanian Blogosphere
Photography taken in the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan.
Girl Playing the Flute by Sabri Hakim
This week marked two celebrations- Jordans Al-Faisali brought home the first-ever Asian trophy in the history of Jord…
“Do you know this Israeli DJ of whom you speak? How is that you are so intimately aware of what his position on things happens to be?”
No where in my post did I suggest I know his views. But it’s absurd to expect me to go fishing for the views of an Israeli zionist who is after all a beneficiairy of zionist violence. This is not some personal argument about who is nice and who is not. of course I can make generalizations, in the same manner anyone can mage generalizations about KKK, Skinheads, neo-Nazis. Had the DJ been Jewish living in France for example, I would not make generalizations. But in Israel, brutality and inhumanity is a policy that is the product of democracy. occupation has been sustained by a majority vote in Israel. If the majority of Israelis did not want the occupation , they can go to the polls and end it today. They did not end it. Does democracy help us make generalizations about the majirity. YOU BET. Democracy comes with responsiblity. the burden is on the israeli to distance him/her self from zionism, it’s not on his victims to try to sort them out.
” You seem to be assuming quite a great deal and your assumptions strike me as odd since his efforts seem to speak to something quite the opposite of what you say.”
What effort? shaking hands is not an effort. Any Israeli would shake hands with a palestinains if they don’t have to return land or take back the expelled. That’s what the Israelis hoped Oslo will do. A handshake, a crippled self-rule, and no viable palestinian state.
“Are you aware that there are quite a large number of Jewish Israelis that agree with most everything that you describe, that will recognize a Palestinian sate and find many of the actions of the IDF reprehensible.”
Large is different from majority. In a democracy, only the majority counts. The majority did not end the occupation. The majority did not welcome back the expelled non-jews.
“I’m afraid your desire to lump everyone into the same boat precludes you from getting a real picture of the opinions on the other side.”
Again, democracy is a VERY accurate indicator of the well of the majority. This not a dicatorship that controls Israel. This is not Saddam forcing his peopel to go to wars. Israel makes decisions by a majority vote.
“There is a core group on both sides that does not seem to want to accept compromise. At this point, I can’t imagine a solution that wouldn’t require a good bit from both.”
I am not impressed by this argument. It’s ment to get Israel off the hook. So please don’t offend us with such talk. Why? because on the Palestinian side, the overwhelming majority of Palestinains elected Arafat to deliver a two-state solution. And one independet survey after another of palestinains shows the majority of palestinians in favor of a two-state solution along UN242. Yet the MAJORITY of Irsraelis, not an extreme minority as you would like us to belive, have voted again and again NOT for an Israeli leaders who is in favor of a two-state solution according to UN242. So the extremists you are referring to in Israel ARE the MAINSTREAM israelis. What they have wanted all along, which was evident during Oslo, is an autonomous palestinian self-rule where the Palestinain Authority can raise its flag and collect trash and issue traffic citations. But Israel retained control over water, airwaves, air space, foregin diplomacy, economy, telecom, swers, …What the majority os Israelis wanted from the peace process is the creation of a South Africa-type system of Palestinian self-rule: we continue to be dominated by the jews, jewish-only towns continues to expand in west bank and gaza, we don’t get to have a say in Israeli politics, we have no rights equal to the jews who control us, …It was a very bad deal. That was the limit of Israeli tolerance of palestinian independence. That’s why the second intifada broke out. Oslo was a scam, a gift from the Israeli majority to the palestinains.
I am personaly in favor of a one state solution, one secular democratic Israel for all its citzens from dead sea to med sea. But that’s too liberal for most jews.
Natasha: “Just please don’t turn the debate into a personal attack. It undermines your argument.”
I am not turning my debate into a personal argument. I am merely pointing out a hasty generalization in your arguments, amongst many.
Natasha:”I support such peaceful initiatives, you do not”
I do support peaceful initiatives. Not ones governed by US foreign strategies though. Afterall, what psychic powers led you to realising this?
Natasha:”And please don’t keep changing your usernames. I’m sick of this game and frankly don’t have the time for it.”
Well last time I checked this blog has no policy of using different names.
If that bothers you, just disable the comments and keep posting comments to your pleasure.
Let me remind you that the last person who publically threatend to burn half of israel, turned out to be a rat smoked out of a spider hole. You know whom I am talking about; the man who was shown lately on newspapers all around the world with the underwear.
As for me Mr. Emad, I gather my info from a sheeshe place!
Or, you Mr. Sakhafaat, I am a shallow person?
At least, the low places I hang out at, do not teach me the kind of high class language you picked from your educative books and reasearches
Just curious here Sakhafat. Do you know this Israeli DJ of whom you speak? How is that you are so intimately aware of what his position on things happens to be? You seem to be assuming quite a great deal and your assumptions strike me as odd since his efforts seem to speak to something quite the opposite of what you say.
Are you aware that there are quite a large number of Jewish Israelis that agree with most everything that you describe, that will recognize a Palestinian sate and find many of the actions of the IDF reprehensible. I’m afraid your desire to lump everyone into the same boat precludes you from getting a real picture of the opinions on the other side. Have you read the Israeli press and realize the degree of dissension?
My impression — those more intimate can correct — is that on both sides it is extremism — extremists — that are keeping peace at bay: You kill one of mine, I kill five or yours, etc. There is a core group on both sides that does not seem to want to accept compromise. At this point, I can’t imagine a solution that wouldn’t require a good bit from both.
“An Israeli DJ wears the hatta and calls for co-exsitense and peace”
But Natahs, as evident by the majority of Israeli remarks on forums and blogs, with Chaya being this blog’s zionist spokesperson, their defintion of peaceul co-existance is unaccptable. Chaya and other zionists want jews and non-jews to peacefully co-exist with jews on the western side of the Jordan river and non-jews on the eastern side of the jordan river.
nice-sounding but amorphous terms such as peace and co-existance, are only meangful when rooted in the framewroks of international ligimtacy. Without such rootedness, zionists can engage us for decades with pointless debates and aimless dialog.
Here is the ultimate test for the Israeli DJ: is he willing to accept a two-state solution along UN242? Is he willing to accept that ethnic cleansing is immoral and that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be respectd, with its right of the expelled to return to their communities?
If he does not accept those two most basic princiles for peaceful co-existance then all he wants, and that’s what most israelis really want, is peace without compromis. this is the peace of the extremists: the DJ is basically saying “I get everything, you get nothingm lets shake hands and kiss for the sake of peace”
No more empty slogans. US butchered millions while “spreading democracy and human rights” Israel broke the back of a whole nation while “making peace” and “ensuring its security.” As a matter of fact, the situation in palestine was far worse during Oslo than anytime before, with jewish-only towns being built at a breakneck speed on stolen land, during the years of Oslo before the 2nd Intifada.
yes to peace and co-existance but with a clear definition.
NOT!
Emad (or whatever your name is),
Here are two scenarios:
1- A Pakistani suicide bomber wears the hatta and blows himself up killing innocents.
2- An Israeli DJ wears the hatta and calls for co-exsitense and peace
Naturally, the first scenario is the one that would upset me. We have different opinions, you should respect that. I support such peaceful initiatives, you do not. This is your opinion and you have the right to say it.
Just please don’t turn the debate into a personal attack. It undermines your argument.
And please don’t keep changing your usernames. I’m sick of this game and frankly don’t have the time for it.
Natasha,
This might have slipped off you mind:
This is what you posted when Al Jazeera aired a feed containing a “Pakistani-British lunatic” wearing the Jordanian Hatta:
“Can anyone one tell me what this Pakistani-British lunatic is doing wearting this red headscarf (commonly known as a Hatta). This headgear is primarily worn by indigenous Jordanian and Saudi tribes! Why on earth does he think he has any connection to it such that he would wear it in his video bombing claim? Is he from a Jordanian or Saudi Arabian tribe ? Hey you lunatic Jihadis, leave our Hattas alone!!”
Well do you think DJ Srulick Einhorn, man in picture wearing a similar Hatta, is from Jordanian or Saudi Arabian tribe?
Or is it an advantageous proclaim of a favorable situation?
Not that DJ Srulick Einhorn can’t wear whatever makes him happy – you seem to call by democracy afterall – not at all.But what bothers me is that, for you, the “Pakistani-British” lunatic gets all the racial anger from you, while the “Israeli” DJ gets all the praise.
I’m not an advocate of what happened in London, but I just wanted to point out to you who gets condemned and who doesn’t.
I hope you get my message.
Thank you.
“As for Palestinains in JOrdan, they are much like Jews in US. Jews in US are loyal to US but fight for Israel.”
Except Jews in America, who can barely point to Palestine/Israel on a map have a ‘birth right’ there and could go in and out of the occupied territories like someone crossing the street. I find that pretty offensive given that most Palestinian refugees, who literally have a ‘birth right’ cannot even think of attempting to cross the degrading borders and checkpoints.
Again Chaya, until you stop looking down at us like we were some form of degenerate humanoids, we will never get along. I feel that Israelis and Palestinians are inherently similar, hell we live in the same area, we look alike and have similar traditions (the non-relgious ones), the difference between us is that we have nothing to lose, nothing; that’s why Israelis will always be on the offensive, annihilating towns and cities alike, building segregation walls and crying anti-semite to all who interfere all at the same time. Its time for you to understand that although Palestinians have their differences (i.e. Sakhafat and I, Hamas and Fateh etc..), we will always stick together on the same basic principles despite the disparity in execution methods…So spare your energy by educating yourself rather than trying to mis-educate us with the convoluted history you’ve been taught at your local kibbutz.
–
“Again – civilians (including Arabs) were hit by a bomber. These people were doing such terrible things! They were shopping! ”
have you visited btselem website recently:
http://www.btselem.org/English/Firearms/
“From the beginning of the intifada, on 29 September 2000, until 30 June 2005, 3,185 Palestinians have been killed in the Occupied Territories, among them 645 minors (under the age of 18). At least 1,722 of those killed were not participating in fighting at the time. Thousands more have been wounded.”
So please do not lecture to us on murder of civilians.
“And don’t give me that crap about the ‘palestinians’ not having weapons. They have plenty of them.”
Hmmmm! did you all see the Hamas Defense Forces (HDF) F16 flying over the scene of the attack?
“Hamas and Islamic Jihad, those people who are supported by Iran and who – by the way – has made it known that he wants to “wipe Israel off the map.” ”
Why are you offended. havent you wiped off Palestine? Haven’t you leveraged all your military and political might to make sure no Palestine exists? Please spare us your rightous indegnation. You have committed far worse offenses than all your enemies combined.
” What were the assaults pre-1967 about? ”
One thing I know. No people on earth like to divide their land with strangers whe come from a far armed with an ideology that explicitly calls for removal of non-jews from their homes. Since you like to quote Hilter, who is a German, I will quote Herzel who is Jewish and who is as far back as 1895, said: “We must expropriate gently..We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in the transit countries, while denying it any employment in our country.”
That’s exactly what has been happeneing ever since. And when “gently” does not work, Israel send in the Merkavas, F16s, and Death Squads.
Now do you really take us for fools. Everyone one knew what zionism was all about. It was not a pacifict movement. It was a violent, supremacist, religious movement. Did you expect the Arabs to welcome Herzel and his supremacist militias with open arms and give up chunks for their land for free and without a fight? Do you know of any nation that was kind enough to slplit its land with people who are coming to evict them? Stop playing victim. Zionism represents a very disturbing form of militancy, whereby you annhilate your foes as you cry victim. God it’s scary.
“non-Muslims are nothing but dhimmi – with no rights, except those given by Muslims. ”
Really? you keep making stuff up. I don’t see many palestinain chrstians complaining of historical persecution at the hands of muslim palestinians. So what “dhimmi” stuff are you talking about. You just through words without context.
“Why didn’t they fight against Jordan who was occupying half of Israel at the time? That’s where the term “West Bank” came from – the west bank of Jordan.”
when the Hashimites were in control, they did not throw palestinians out of their homes, take over the land and give it to foriegners. There is no equivilance to Zionism in Jordan where someone like Herzel was plotting a century ago to expell the non-Jordanians from palestine.
” And by the way, how many of you know that Jordan is the other half of what was called Palestine at the time. Jordan was created in (I think) 1921 to satisfy those that wanted an Arab-Palestinian state.”
Except that we Palestinains do not think you can waltz in, throw millions out of their homes and then tell us to live anywhere but palestine. you see, if you can claim roots based on some religous narrative writen 5000 years ago, than surely I and 3.5 million expelled non-jews have a stronger claim considering our expulsion goes back less than a century.
“So, there already exists a Palestine for the Arabs. It is called Jordan! ”
And there is one for Jews called New York. Sorry you were kicked out of South Africa, but you played a nasty role in backing up the aparthied regiem.
“Just as there was a transfer of population when Pakistan was created (Hindus to India/Moslems to Pakistan);”
You leave very critical details out. in India, muslims are full citizens, they vote and they buy property. Same in Pakistan for Hindus. In holy land there are millions of non-jews under jewish domination who have no human rights, no freedom of movement, receive less water than jews, cannot live in many jewish-only cities. Don’t compare your inhumanity to india’s great democracy.
“the major population of Jordan is Palestinian. Those that truly want to stay on the Israeli side would get Jordanian citizenship.”
As for Palestinains in JOrdan, they are much like Jews in US. Jews in US are loyal to US but fight for Israel. Palestinains in Jordan are loyal to Jordan but fight for Palestine. The only difference is that you fight for zionism, a hateful ideology that exludes non-jews. While palestinains fight to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Right.