9 Sept Protests in London against war criminal Binyamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu: one of the most repellent and dangerous politicians in the world today
Hundreds of protesters blocked the road outside 10 Downing Street as David Cameron met his "close friend" Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu: one of the most repellent and dangerous politicians in the world today
Durante a presidência deste, a orquestra glamorosa da qual os iranianos se orgulhavam foi desfeita devido a negligência e estringência financeira do governo.
Com o fim do período negro que correspondeu um pouco à ditadura brasileira sob o general Médici, veio o período Hassan Rouhani, que está mais para general Figueiredo em fim de "mandato" do que para general Geisel, e o Ministério de Cultura vem recuperando o brilho ofuscado. O ponto alto das decisões do novo ministro foi contratar como maestro titular Alexander-Ali Rahbari, iraniano pós-graduado no Conservatório de Viena e com carreira internacional de primeira, tendo regido inclusive a Filarmônica de Berlin.
A prova de fogo aconteceu em março deste ano, quando ela voltou a atuar com um concerto de gala no Teatro Vahdat de Teerã. O programa de Rahbari foi ambicioso e sugestivo de novos tempos: 9a sinfonia de Beethoven, "Symphony No 9 was only performed once for seven nights in the past 40 years, so when I told them we were going to perform that, they were in shock,” contou o maestro, que no fim do concerto estava visivelmente emocionado: “I walked on to the stage and the audience rose to its feet. I’ve performed for 40 years outside Iran and never seen a standing ovation before the performance. This was something totally different. It showed what having the orchestra back meant to them. I was close to tears.”
A primeira fileira da plateia estava repleta da nata socio-financeira de Teerã e de figurões do governo. Rouhani não estava por causa de compromissos inevitáveis, mas fez questão de demonstrar seu apoio mandando ministros de peso.
A orquestra é composta só de músicos iranianos. Na estreia, além dos 87 músicos, havia um coral de 70 cantores no Hino à Alegria, em alemão, que fecha a Nona sinfonia. Jos Douma, embaixador da Holanda, tweeted em seguida: “Rahbari, orchestra and choir did a terrific job. When musicians want to do something, they can do magic.” Com certeza.
Após dirigir 120 orquestras europeias, só aos 66 anos que o maestro Rahbari voltou a ter o prazer de atuar em casa. A última fora há cerca de 40 anos durante os anos áureos em que acompanhava violinistas como Yehudi Menuhin et coreografias de Maurice Béjart.
Ali Rahbari deixara Teheran em 1979, logo após a revolução islâmica por acreditar que o novo governo estava privilegiando nomes consagrados em detrimento do corpo musical de base. Passou 30 anos sem pôr os pés na pátria, voltou brevemente após a eleição de Ahmadinejad e sentindo o clima pesado, retornou à Europa e só retornou col Rouhani: “Now, it’s a completely different story,” disse. “We have a unique opportunity that we’ve never had before. I'm particularly delighted that the support comes from a president who is a cleric."
Desde a retomada de atividades, a orquestra tem apresentado quatro programas mensais e incluiu óperas, inclusive "Irmã Angélica", de Giacomo Puccini. Apesar do apoio do presidente, a linha dura clerical conseguiu sabotar alguns concertos, sobretudo as obras que têm solistas femininas. As mulheres só são autorizadas a cantar acompanhadas de cantores masculinos.
Rahbari contradiz os extremistas: “Our religion is full of music, look at Ta’zieh [um tipo de teatro condolências religiosas] or even reading the Qur’an, there’s music in that. When I was a kid, I used to play Mozart. One day my traditional Iranian mum went to see the local mullah, asking him: ‘My son is playing someone called Mozzzar, is that OK?’ The cleric responded: ‘I don’t know Mr Mozzzar in person but I’ve heard good things about him. I’m sure he’ll be fine.” E revelou seu sonho: “I’ve performed in almost all major European cities but I wish one day I can take my own country’s symphony orchestra to one of these places, like London or Berlin. That day is not far off.”
Enquanto Maomé não vai à montanha, a montanha vai a Maomé.
Daniel Barenboin, um dos maiores maestros contemporâneos e atual diretor da prestigiosa Berlin State Opera, resolveu fazer um gesto concreto de apoio ao colega iraniano declarando sua intenção de levar seus músicos a Teerã em futuro próximo.
Como era de se esperar, o governo israelense ficou possesso. Literalmente. Enfim, mais ainda do que já é. Sua ministra da cultura e esportes (!), a coronel de reserva e ex-porta-voz da IDF Miri Regev, logo prometeu carta de protesto a Angela Merkel para que proiba o concerto. Escreveu em seu Facebook: "In my letter I shall stress that Daniel Barenboim's appearance in Iran harms Israel's effots to prevent the nuclear agreement and gives encouragement to de-legitimisation of Isarel."
Como se Israel precisasse de ajuda externa para provar que é um Estado fora-da-lei. Mas não parou aí: "Iran is a state which supports terror, is behind Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas", até aí só citou grupos de resistência, e continuou, "and its leaders have blood on their hands" (!) será que há algum líder de país reconhecido na ONU com mais sangue nas mãos do que Binyamin Netanyahu? Eu não conheço nenhum. Mas ela não parou a hasbara: "I believe that Germany would be acting regihtly if it were to cancel the appearance of the orchestra and its conductor."
Depois, essa mulher acusou Barenboin (fundador, junto com o saudoso Edward Said, de uma orquestra precursora, denominada West-Eastern Divan Orchestra em 1999, que reunia músicos egípcios, jordanianos, iranianos, lebaneses e palestinos) de: "using culture as a platform for his anti-Israel political views".
Daniel Barenboin é o único músico clássico e o único maestro influente no mundo que é politizado e contrário à política israelense de ocupação e limpeza étnica da Palestina. É argentino e sua família mudou-se para Israel quando ele tinha 10 anos. Dois anos depois, em 1954, seu pai o levou a Salzburgo, na Áustria (onde teve oportunidade de conhecer e ser ouvido pelo maior maestro de todos os tempos: Wilhelm Furtwangler) e depois para Paris, onde continuou seus estudos de música iniciados na Argentina como garoto prodígio. Qualidade confirmada pelo próprio Furtwangler.
Hoje com 72 anos, Barenboim já dirigiu as maiores orquestras europeias com louvores, e além das nacionalidades argentina, espanhola e israelense, solicitiou e obteve da Autoridade Nacional Palestina nacionalidade palestina honorária, que ostenta com orgulho.
Barenboim virou quase persona non grata em Israel, por causa de seu humanismo e sua posição clara.
Lembro com emoção do concerto de sua orquestra internacional em Ramallah em 2005 e do escândalo que causou em Israel. Ariel Sharon quase teve um infarto de tanta raiva.
Aliás, o maestro humanista já causara escândalo maior em Tel Aviv em 2000. Nesse ano foi convidado para participar de um festival de música clássica e viu sua escolha do primeiro ato das Valquírias, de Rcihard Wagner (compositor preferido de Hitler e por isso, odiado por judeus extremistas) vetado pelos organizadores do evento. Daniel Barenboim foi obrigado a substitiui-lo por Schumann e no final da representação da Berlin Staatskapelle, no bis, anunciou: "Despite what the Israel Festival believes, there are people sitting in the audience for whom Wagner does not spark Nazi associations. I respect those for whom these associations are oppressive. It will be democratic to play a Wagner encore for those who wish to hear it. I am turning to you now and asking whether I can play Wagner". Seguiu-se um longo debate com alguns na sala chamando o maestro de fascista e no final, esta minoria obtusa retirou-se da sala e a maioria absoluta ficou para ouvir uma bela performance do prelúdio da ópera Tristão e Isolda, de Wagner. Foi aplaudido efusivamente.
Pois bem, a nova batalha músico-política do maestro humanista de 72 anos é estender a mão para o Irã através da música. Como se sabe, o Irã assinou um tratado nuclear com as potências ocidentais em agosto deste ano - abordarei este assunto m outro momento - e Barenboim quer ajudar a desdemonizar o país.
Uma representação de Daniel Barenboim no Irã será um gesto significativo de aproximação do país com o Ocidente. E um passo importante na derrubada das barreiras culturais entre este povo culto, que é o iraniano, com os europeus, igualmente cultos, e os estadunidenses, menos; bem menos.
O concerto em Teerã já fora marcado, mas devido à força do lobby israelense, foi adiado sem data. Mas a representação é uma questão de tempo e a retomada de relações artístico-culturais entre a Europa e o Irã está em bom caminho. O diretor do Museu do Louvre, um dos dois museus maiores (em grandeza e em tamanho) do mundo (o outro é o Hermitage, em São Petersburgo, Rússia).
De qualquer jeito, iga o que disser Miri Regev e faça o que fizer esta ministra que chamou a imigração judeu-sudanesa em Israel de "câncer", a reaproximação com o Irã é inevitável e Angela Merkel talvez demore, mas tem de acabar concordando com Daniel Barenboim, se não quiser que a hipocrisia reine também na Alemanha. Pois ela já mandou um pacote de empresários a Teerã para conquistar o mercado. A delegação era composta de cem pessoas chefiadas pelo vice-chanceler alemão em pessoa. Como vetar a representação de uma orquestra depois dessa manobra comercial?
Ali Rahbari está ansioso para receber seu colega: “The Staatskapelle Berlin with its music director Daniel Barenboim is currently in talks with Iran about a possible concert of the Staatskapelle in Tehran,” said a statement by Staatskapelle Berlin. German foreign minister Steinmeier has taken on the patronage of this concert and supports Daniel Barenboim’s commitment to make music accessible to people beyond any national, religious or ethnic boundaries. This is very important for us. We have prepared our own orchestra for a collaboration with them and we are very pleased to be involved.”
A tal da Miri Regev (que não tem nenhum parentesco com o great deceiver ex-porta-voz de Netanyahu e atual embaixador de Israel em Londres, Mark Regev, mas é da mesma linha da hasbara dura) não desiste de sua campanha difamatória e obscurantista: "I think it would behoove Germany to cancel the appearance of the orchestra and its conductor. There’s no reason to celebrate; certainly not with an orchestra.”
Só ela e seus chefes do Likud, partido israelense de extrema-direita que elegeu Netanyahu, concordam com isso.
O presidente da Áustria, Heinz Fischer, está com viagem marcada para Teerã neste mês. Será a primeira visita oficial de um presidente europeu ao Irã e os preparativos de acolhida estão intensos. No fim de agosto a Inglaterra reabriu sua embaixada.
O ministro das relações extreriores da Alemanha, Frank-Walter Steinmeie deve ir a Teerã em outubro. Especula-se que a representação de Barenboim coincida... Será imperdível. Eu sou fã de carteirinha desde a primeira vez que vi o maestro no palco há três décadas - com as mãos no piano ou com a batuta, Daniel Barenboim é extraordinário, de uma potência digna do grande Furtwangler, o qual não iguala, mas chega pertinho. (Sua representação completa dos Anéis de Liebelung do Wagner foi a melhor que já assisti na minha vida. Se houver DVD, recomendo. Como tudo dele.)
Enquanto a controvérsia continua, a Orquestra Filarmônica de Teerã também continua seu sucesso, com todas as apresentações lotadas. Inclusive o recente concerto conjunto com a Orquestra Filarmônica da China, quando os músicos reunidos interpretaram a Quinta sinfonia de Tchaikovsky.
O programa desta temporada 2015/16 inclui óperas notáveis como a Flauta Mágica, de Mozart; Hansel e Gretel, de Engelbert Humperdinck (foi Richard Strauss que a dirigu na estreia em 1893 e Gustav Mahler na segunda apresentação no ano seguinte) e Gianni Schicchi, de Puccini.
Com ou sem a aprovação de Israel, o Irã está incontornável e Teerã está voltando à moda e recuperando seu merecido status dos anos dourados. Já estava em tempo. Agora só falta a velha guarda religiosa ficar menos rigorosa e os aiatolás apoiarem a abertura de Rouhani, sem baixar a guarda, pois Israel e o ISIL/Daesh estão à espreita.
Com o fim do período negro que correspondeu um pouco à ditadura brasileira sob o general Médici, veio o período Hassan Rouhani, que está mais para general Figueiredo em fim de "mandato" do que para general Geisel, e o Ministério de Cultura vem recuperando o brilho ofuscado. O ponto alto das decisões do novo ministro foi contratar como maestro titular Alexander-Ali Rahbari, iraniano pós-graduado no Conservatório de Viena e com carreira internacional de primeira, tendo regido inclusive a Filarmônica de Berlin.
A prova de fogo aconteceu em março deste ano, quando ela voltou a atuar com um concerto de gala no Teatro Vahdat de Teerã. O programa de Rahbari foi ambicioso e sugestivo de novos tempos: 9a sinfonia de Beethoven, "Symphony No 9 was only performed once for seven nights in the past 40 years, so when I told them we were going to perform that, they were in shock,” contou o maestro, que no fim do concerto estava visivelmente emocionado: “I walked on to the stage and the audience rose to its feet. I’ve performed for 40 years outside Iran and never seen a standing ovation before the performance. This was something totally different. It showed what having the orchestra back meant to them. I was close to tears.”
A orquestra é composta só de músicos iranianos. Na estreia, além dos 87 músicos, havia um coral de 70 cantores no Hino à Alegria, em alemão, que fecha a Nona sinfonia. Jos Douma, embaixador da Holanda, tweeted em seguida: “Rahbari, orchestra and choir did a terrific job. When musicians want to do something, they can do magic.” Com certeza.
Após dirigir 120 orquestras europeias, só aos 66 anos que o maestro Rahbari voltou a ter o prazer de atuar em casa. A última fora há cerca de 40 anos durante os anos áureos em que acompanhava violinistas como Yehudi Menuhin et coreografias de Maurice Béjart.
Ali Rahbari deixara Teheran em 1979, logo após a revolução islâmica por acreditar que o novo governo estava privilegiando nomes consagrados em detrimento do corpo musical de base. Passou 30 anos sem pôr os pés na pátria, voltou brevemente após a eleição de Ahmadinejad e sentindo o clima pesado, retornou à Europa e só retornou col Rouhani: “Now, it’s a completely different story,” disse. “We have a unique opportunity that we’ve never had before. I'm particularly delighted that the support comes from a president who is a cleric."
Desde a retomada de atividades, a orquestra tem apresentado quatro programas mensais e incluiu óperas, inclusive "Irmã Angélica", de Giacomo Puccini. Apesar do apoio do presidente, a linha dura clerical conseguiu sabotar alguns concertos, sobretudo as obras que têm solistas femininas. As mulheres só são autorizadas a cantar acompanhadas de cantores masculinos.
Rahbari contradiz os extremistas: “Our religion is full of music, look at Ta’zieh [um tipo de teatro condolências religiosas] or even reading the Qur’an, there’s music in that. When I was a kid, I used to play Mozart. One day my traditional Iranian mum went to see the local mullah, asking him: ‘My son is playing someone called Mozzzar, is that OK?’ The cleric responded: ‘I don’t know Mr Mozzzar in person but I’ve heard good things about him. I’m sure he’ll be fine.” E revelou seu sonho: “I’ve performed in almost all major European cities but I wish one day I can take my own country’s symphony orchestra to one of these places, like London or Berlin. That day is not far off.”
Conversation between Daniel Baremboin and Edward Said
Daniel Barenboin, um dos maiores maestros contemporâneos e atual diretor da prestigiosa Berlin State Opera, resolveu fazer um gesto concreto de apoio ao colega iraniano declarando sua intenção de levar seus músicos a Teerã em futuro próximo.
Como era de se esperar, o governo israelense ficou possesso. Literalmente. Enfim, mais ainda do que já é. Sua ministra da cultura e esportes (!), a coronel de reserva e ex-porta-voz da IDF Miri Regev, logo prometeu carta de protesto a Angela Merkel para que proiba o concerto. Escreveu em seu Facebook: "In my letter I shall stress that Daniel Barenboim's appearance in Iran harms Israel's effots to prevent the nuclear agreement and gives encouragement to de-legitimisation of Isarel."
Como se Israel precisasse de ajuda externa para provar que é um Estado fora-da-lei. Mas não parou aí: "Iran is a state which supports terror, is behind Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas", até aí só citou grupos de resistência, e continuou, "and its leaders have blood on their hands" (!) será que há algum líder de país reconhecido na ONU com mais sangue nas mãos do que Binyamin Netanyahu? Eu não conheço nenhum. Mas ela não parou a hasbara: "I believe that Germany would be acting regihtly if it were to cancel the appearance of the orchestra and its conductor."
Depois, essa mulher acusou Barenboin (fundador, junto com o saudoso Edward Said, de uma orquestra precursora, denominada West-Eastern Divan Orchestra em 1999, que reunia músicos egípcios, jordanianos, iranianos, lebaneses e palestinos) de: "using culture as a platform for his anti-Israel political views".
Daniel Barenboin é o único músico clássico e o único maestro influente no mundo que é politizado e contrário à política israelense de ocupação e limpeza étnica da Palestina. É argentino e sua família mudou-se para Israel quando ele tinha 10 anos. Dois anos depois, em 1954, seu pai o levou a Salzburgo, na Áustria (onde teve oportunidade de conhecer e ser ouvido pelo maior maestro de todos os tempos: Wilhelm Furtwangler) e depois para Paris, onde continuou seus estudos de música iniciados na Argentina como garoto prodígio. Qualidade confirmada pelo próprio Furtwangler.
Hoje com 72 anos, Barenboim já dirigiu as maiores orquestras europeias com louvores, e além das nacionalidades argentina, espanhola e israelense, solicitiou e obteve da Autoridade Nacional Palestina nacionalidade palestina honorária, que ostenta com orgulho.
Barenboim virou quase persona non grata em Israel, por causa de seu humanismo e sua posição clara.
Lembro com emoção do concerto de sua orquestra internacional em Ramallah em 2005 e do escândalo que causou em Israel. Ariel Sharon quase teve um infarto de tanta raiva.
Aliás, o maestro humanista já causara escândalo maior em Tel Aviv em 2000. Nesse ano foi convidado para participar de um festival de música clássica e viu sua escolha do primeiro ato das Valquírias, de Rcihard Wagner (compositor preferido de Hitler e por isso, odiado por judeus extremistas) vetado pelos organizadores do evento. Daniel Barenboim foi obrigado a substitiui-lo por Schumann e no final da representação da Berlin Staatskapelle, no bis, anunciou: "Despite what the Israel Festival believes, there are people sitting in the audience for whom Wagner does not spark Nazi associations. I respect those for whom these associations are oppressive. It will be democratic to play a Wagner encore for those who wish to hear it. I am turning to you now and asking whether I can play Wagner". Seguiu-se um longo debate com alguns na sala chamando o maestro de fascista e no final, esta minoria obtusa retirou-se da sala e a maioria absoluta ficou para ouvir uma bela performance do prelúdio da ópera Tristão e Isolda, de Wagner. Foi aplaudido efusivamente.
Pois bem, a nova batalha músico-política do maestro humanista de 72 anos é estender a mão para o Irã através da música. Como se sabe, o Irã assinou um tratado nuclear com as potências ocidentais em agosto deste ano - abordarei este assunto m outro momento - e Barenboim quer ajudar a desdemonizar o país.
Uma representação de Daniel Barenboim no Irã será um gesto significativo de aproximação do país com o Ocidente. E um passo importante na derrubada das barreiras culturais entre este povo culto, que é o iraniano, com os europeus, igualmente cultos, e os estadunidenses, menos; bem menos.
O concerto em Teerã já fora marcado, mas devido à força do lobby israelense, foi adiado sem data. Mas a representação é uma questão de tempo e a retomada de relações artístico-culturais entre a Europa e o Irã está em bom caminho. O diretor do Museu do Louvre, um dos dois museus maiores (em grandeza e em tamanho) do mundo (o outro é o Hermitage, em São Petersburgo, Rússia).
De qualquer jeito, iga o que disser Miri Regev e faça o que fizer esta ministra que chamou a imigração judeu-sudanesa em Israel de "câncer", a reaproximação com o Irã é inevitável e Angela Merkel talvez demore, mas tem de acabar concordando com Daniel Barenboim, se não quiser que a hipocrisia reine também na Alemanha. Pois ela já mandou um pacote de empresários a Teerã para conquistar o mercado. A delegação era composta de cem pessoas chefiadas pelo vice-chanceler alemão em pessoa. Como vetar a representação de uma orquestra depois dessa manobra comercial?
Ali Rahbari está ansioso para receber seu colega: “The Staatskapelle Berlin with its music director Daniel Barenboim is currently in talks with Iran about a possible concert of the Staatskapelle in Tehran,” said a statement by Staatskapelle Berlin. German foreign minister Steinmeier has taken on the patronage of this concert and supports Daniel Barenboim’s commitment to make music accessible to people beyond any national, religious or ethnic boundaries. This is very important for us. We have prepared our own orchestra for a collaboration with them and we are very pleased to be involved.”
A tal da Miri Regev (que não tem nenhum parentesco com o great deceiver ex-porta-voz de Netanyahu e atual embaixador de Israel em Londres, Mark Regev, mas é da mesma linha da hasbara dura) não desiste de sua campanha difamatória e obscurantista: "I think it would behoove Germany to cancel the appearance of the orchestra and its conductor. There’s no reason to celebrate; certainly not with an orchestra.”
Só ela e seus chefes do Likud, partido israelense de extrema-direita que elegeu Netanyahu, concordam com isso.
O presidente da Áustria, Heinz Fischer, está com viagem marcada para Teerã neste mês. Será a primeira visita oficial de um presidente europeu ao Irã e os preparativos de acolhida estão intensos. No fim de agosto a Inglaterra reabriu sua embaixada.
O ministro das relações extreriores da Alemanha, Frank-Walter Steinmeie deve ir a Teerã em outubro. Especula-se que a representação de Barenboim coincida... Será imperdível. Eu sou fã de carteirinha desde a primeira vez que vi o maestro no palco há três décadas - com as mãos no piano ou com a batuta, Daniel Barenboim é extraordinário, de uma potência digna do grande Furtwangler, o qual não iguala, mas chega pertinho. (Sua representação completa dos Anéis de Liebelung do Wagner foi a melhor que já assisti na minha vida. Se houver DVD, recomendo. Como tudo dele.)
Enquanto a controvérsia continua, a Orquestra Filarmônica de Teerã também continua seu sucesso, com todas as apresentações lotadas. Inclusive o recente concerto conjunto com a Orquestra Filarmônica da China, quando os músicos reunidos interpretaram a Quinta sinfonia de Tchaikovsky.
Com ou sem a aprovação de Israel, o Irã está incontornável e Teerã está voltando à moda e recuperando seu merecido status dos anos dourados. Já estava em tempo. Agora só falta a velha guarda religiosa ficar menos rigorosa e os aiatolás apoiarem a abertura de Rouhani, sem baixar a guarda, pois Israel e o ISIL/Daesh estão à espreita.
Listening Post: Under Scrutiny - Selling the Iran-US deal
Filme do cineasta húngaro István Szabó sobre o processo do maestro Wilhelm Furtwangler, interpretado pelo ator sueco Stellan Skarsgard : Taking Sides (2001): http://tinyurl.com/q4pxxqx. Filme onde Harvey Keitel interpreta com esmero a ignorância dos oficiais estadunidenses.
E recomendo também todas as gravações de Furtwangler. Incomparáveis, sobretudo as sinfonias do Beethoven - A Sétima é divina. Eis abaixo o trailer do filme.
NEWS
September 15th: Norman Finkelstein at Yale Debate Union
Conferência de Norman Finkelstein na Escócia, em Glasgow, 31/08/15
E recomendo também todas as gravações de Furtwangler. Incomparáveis, sobretudo as sinfonias do Beethoven - A Sétima é divina. Eis abaixo o trailer do filme.
Follow the ‘Olympics without Apartheid’: https://goo.gl/IYmpOC
PALESTINA : Agosto em fotos / August in pictures. A monthly roundup of photographs documenting Palestine, Palestinian life, politics and culture, and international solidarity with Palestine.
NEWS
September 15th: Norman Finkelstein at Yale Debate Union
Conferência de Norman Finkelstein na Escócia, em Glasgow, 31/08/15
Norman F.'s talk in Glasgow
1. Israel in Palestine: Separating fact from fiction. Marwan Bishara
2. Can UK parliament ignore 100,000 calls for Netanyahu's arrest?Ali Abunimah
3.Campus informants prompt debate at West Bank schools. The PA's practise of paying university students for information has become prevalent, staff and students say.
4. Israel plans to demolish 17,000 Arab buildings in West Bank, UN says. UN finds only 33 of 2,020 Palestinian planning applications approved, with demolitions causing poverty and leaving families in ‘state of chronic uncertainty’
5. Palestinian mother injured in arson attack dies. Riham Dawabsha's toddler son and husband had died after firebombing of their West Bank home by alleged Jewish settlers.
Uri Avnery : The Face of a Boy. 05/09/2015
"The misdeeds of Napoleon's occupation army in Spain were not photographed. Photography had not yet been invented. the valiant fighters against the occupation had to rely on Francisco Goya for the immortal painting of the resistance.
The partisans and underground fighters against the German occupation of their countries in World War II had no time to take pictures. Even the heroic uprising of the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw was not filmed by the participants. The Germans themselves filmed their atrocities, and, being Germans, they catalogued and filed them in an orderly way.
In the meantime, photography has become common commonplace. The Israeli occupation in the Palestinian occupied territories is being filmed all the time. Everybody now has cellular phones that take pictures. Also, Israeli peace organizations have distributed cameras to many Arab inhabitants.
Soldiers shoot with guns. The Palestinians shoot pictures.
It is not yet clear which are more effective in the long run: the bullets or the photos.
A test case is a short clip taken recently in a remote West Bank village called al-Nabi Saleh.
Every Israeli has seen this footage many times by now. It has been shown again and again by all Israeli TV stations. Many millions around the world have seen it on their local TV. It is making the rounds in the social media.
The clip shows an incident that occurred near the village on Friday, two weeks ago. Nothing very special. Nothing terrible. Just a routine event. But the pictures are unforgettable.
The village al-Nabi Saleh is located not far from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. It is named in honor of a prophet (Nabi means prophet in both Arabic and Hebrew) who lived before the time of Muhammad and is said to be buried there. His extensive tomb is the pride of the 550 inhabitants.
Al-Nabi Saleh is build on the remains of a crusader outpost, which in its turn was built on the remains of a Byzantine village. Its history probably goes back to ancient Canaanite times. I believe that the population of these villages has never changed – they just changed their religion and culture according to the powers that be... They were in turn Canaanites, Judaeans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and finally Arabs [Palestinians].
The latest occupation (until now) is the Israeli. These new occupiers have no interest in converting the locals. They just want to take their land, and, if possible, induce them to go away. On part of the lands of Nabi Saleh an Israeli settlement called Halamish ("flint") was set up.
The conflict between the village and its new "neighbors" started immediately. Between them is an ancient well, which the settlers have renovated and claim as their own. The village is not ready to give it up.
Like in many other villages in the area, such as Bil'in, on every Friday, right after the prayers in the mosque, a demonstration against the occupation and the settlers takes place. A few Israeli peace activists and international volunteers take part in them. The demonstrators are generally non-violent, but on the fringes teen-agers and children often throw stones. The soldiers shoot rubber-covered steel bullets, tear gas and stun grenades, and sometime live bullets.
As in many small Arab villages, most inhabitants belong to one extended family, in this case the Tamimis. One Tamimi boy was shot dead in one of the demonstrations, a girl was shot in the foot. It is a Tamimi boy who features in the recent event.
The clip that rocked the world starts with one lone soldier, who was obviously sent to arrest a boy who had (or had not) thrown a stone.
The soldiers jumps across the rocky terrain, looks for the boy who is hiding behind a rock and catches him. It is 12 year old Muhammad Tamimi, with one arm in a plaster cast.
The soldier puts his arm around the neck of the boy, who cries in terror. Soon his 14 year old sister appears, and soon after that his mother and other women. They all tear at the soldier, who tries to push them away with his other arm. During the wild struggle, the sister bites the arm of the soldier, the one which holds his gun.
The soldier is masked. This is a new thing. Why are they masked? What are they hiding? After all, they are not Russian policemen who fear the revenge of the gangsters. When I was a soldier, long ago, masks were unknown.
During the melee, one of the women succeeds in ripping the soldier's mask off. We see his face – just an ordinary young man, recently out of high school, who is obviously at a loss of what to do. There seem to be photographers all around. One sees their feet.
Would the soldier have used his gun if the photographers had not been there? Hard to say. Recently a brigade commander shot and killed a boy who had thrown a stone at his car. The army condones and even lauds such acts of "self defense".
For some minutes the scene goes on – the boy crying and pleading, the women pushing and hitting, the soldier pushing back, everybody shouting. Then another soldier approaches and tells the first soldier to release the child, who is seen running away.
We don't know who the soldier is. It is hard to guess his background. Just a soldier, one of many who enforce the occupation, who face the demonstrations every week.
Another angle to the event is provided by one of the protesters off camera, so to speak, who was caught for a fleeting moment. He was recognized.
He is a teacher who bears the names of two illustrious persons – the Zionist founder Theodor Herzl and the composer Franz Schubert. Herzl Schubert is a veteran left-wing peace activist. I have met him in many demonstrations.
On the morrow of the showing of the footage on all Israeli television stations, the cry went up to dismiss him. What, a leftist peace demonstrator in the schoolroom?
Schubert was not accused of preaching his opinions in class. His peace activities did not take place during working hours. The very fact that he took part in a demonstration in his own free time was enough. His case is now "being considered" by the education ministry.
This, by the way, is no exceptional case. A respected female educator who was chosen as headmistress of an art school was blocked by the discovery that many years ago she had signed a petition calling on the army to allow soldiers to refuse service in the occupied territories. The petition did not call for refusal but only respect for the moral decision of the refusers. That is enough. The ministry, now led by a nationalist-religious demagogue, promised "to consider the matter".
These cases of a new McCarthyism concern, of course, only leftists. No one demands the dismissal of the rabbi who prohibits the selling or renting of apartments to Arabs [Palestinian survivors of the Naqba who became second class Israeli citizens]. Or the rabbi who wrote that under certain conditions it is permissible to kill non-Jews, including children. Their salaries are paid by the state.
Many millions around the world must by now have seen the Nabi Saleh footage. It is impossible to assess the extent of the damage.
It is not that this clip is especially revolting. Nothing terrible happens. It is the face of the occupation, the present face of Israel, that imprints itself on the minds of the viewers...
...The Israel that presents itself to the world now is a state of occupiers, of oppressors, of brutal colonizers, of soldiers armed to the teeth who arrest people in the middle of the night and persecute them during the day.
This face changes the perception of Israel throughout the world. Every TV clip and news item adds imperceptibly to this change. The attitude of ordinary people around the world, also including Jews, is changed. The damage is lasting and probably irremediable.
The terrified face of young Muhammad Tamimi may well haunt us for a long time to come."
Obs: Uri Avnery comenta o vídeo que publiquei no blog da semana passada. O episódio anterior ao qual ele se refere, do outro menino assassinado cuja foto mostro acima, ocorreu em 2011. A vítima foi Muhammad Bilal Abdul Salam Al-Tamini. Os ativistas israelenses do +972mag relatam o episódio no seguinte site: http://972mag.com/when-a-child-becomes-an-enemy/13767/.
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"The misdeeds of Napoleon's occupation army in Spain were not photographed. Photography had not yet been invented. the valiant fighters against the occupation had to rely on Francisco Goya for the immortal painting of the resistance.
The partisans and underground fighters against the German occupation of their countries in World War II had no time to take pictures. Even the heroic uprising of the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw was not filmed by the participants. The Germans themselves filmed their atrocities, and, being Germans, they catalogued and filed them in an orderly way.
In the meantime, photography has become common commonplace. The Israeli occupation in the Palestinian occupied territories is being filmed all the time. Everybody now has cellular phones that take pictures. Also, Israeli peace organizations have distributed cameras to many Arab inhabitants.
Soldiers shoot with guns. The Palestinians shoot pictures.
It is not yet clear which are more effective in the long run: the bullets or the photos.
A test case is a short clip taken recently in a remote West Bank village called al-Nabi Saleh.
Every Israeli has seen this footage many times by now. It has been shown again and again by all Israeli TV stations. Many millions around the world have seen it on their local TV. It is making the rounds in the social media.
The clip shows an incident that occurred near the village on Friday, two weeks ago. Nothing very special. Nothing terrible. Just a routine event. But the pictures are unforgettable.
The village al-Nabi Saleh is located not far from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. It is named in honor of a prophet (Nabi means prophet in both Arabic and Hebrew) who lived before the time of Muhammad and is said to be buried there. His extensive tomb is the pride of the 550 inhabitants.
Al-Nabi Saleh is build on the remains of a crusader outpost, which in its turn was built on the remains of a Byzantine village. Its history probably goes back to ancient Canaanite times. I believe that the population of these villages has never changed – they just changed their religion and culture according to the powers that be... They were in turn Canaanites, Judaeans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and finally Arabs [Palestinians].
The latest occupation (until now) is the Israeli. These new occupiers have no interest in converting the locals. They just want to take their land, and, if possible, induce them to go away. On part of the lands of Nabi Saleh an Israeli settlement called Halamish ("flint") was set up.
The conflict between the village and its new "neighbors" started immediately. Between them is an ancient well, which the settlers have renovated and claim as their own. The village is not ready to give it up.
Like in many other villages in the area, such as Bil'in, on every Friday, right after the prayers in the mosque, a demonstration against the occupation and the settlers takes place. A few Israeli peace activists and international volunteers take part in them. The demonstrators are generally non-violent, but on the fringes teen-agers and children often throw stones. The soldiers shoot rubber-covered steel bullets, tear gas and stun grenades, and sometime live bullets.
As in many small Arab villages, most inhabitants belong to one extended family, in this case the Tamimis. One Tamimi boy was shot dead in one of the demonstrations, a girl was shot in the foot. It is a Tamimi boy who features in the recent event.
The clip that rocked the world starts with one lone soldier, who was obviously sent to arrest a boy who had (or had not) thrown a stone.
The soldiers jumps across the rocky terrain, looks for the boy who is hiding behind a rock and catches him. It is 12 year old Muhammad Tamimi, with one arm in a plaster cast.
The soldier puts his arm around the neck of the boy, who cries in terror. Soon his 14 year old sister appears, and soon after that his mother and other women. They all tear at the soldier, who tries to push them away with his other arm. During the wild struggle, the sister bites the arm of the soldier, the one which holds his gun.
The soldier is masked. This is a new thing. Why are they masked? What are they hiding? After all, they are not Russian policemen who fear the revenge of the gangsters. When I was a soldier, long ago, masks were unknown.
During the melee, one of the women succeeds in ripping the soldier's mask off. We see his face – just an ordinary young man, recently out of high school, who is obviously at a loss of what to do. There seem to be photographers all around. One sees their feet.
Would the soldier have used his gun if the photographers had not been there? Hard to say. Recently a brigade commander shot and killed a boy who had thrown a stone at his car. The army condones and even lauds such acts of "self defense".
For some minutes the scene goes on – the boy crying and pleading, the women pushing and hitting, the soldier pushing back, everybody shouting. Then another soldier approaches and tells the first soldier to release the child, who is seen running away.
We don't know who the soldier is. It is hard to guess his background. Just a soldier, one of many who enforce the occupation, who face the demonstrations every week.
Another angle to the event is provided by one of the protesters off camera, so to speak, who was caught for a fleeting moment. He was recognized.
He is a teacher who bears the names of two illustrious persons – the Zionist founder Theodor Herzl and the composer Franz Schubert. Herzl Schubert is a veteran left-wing peace activist. I have met him in many demonstrations.
On the morrow of the showing of the footage on all Israeli television stations, the cry went up to dismiss him. What, a leftist peace demonstrator in the schoolroom?
Schubert was not accused of preaching his opinions in class. His peace activities did not take place during working hours. The very fact that he took part in a demonstration in his own free time was enough. His case is now "being considered" by the education ministry.
This, by the way, is no exceptional case. A respected female educator who was chosen as headmistress of an art school was blocked by the discovery that many years ago she had signed a petition calling on the army to allow soldiers to refuse service in the occupied territories. The petition did not call for refusal but only respect for the moral decision of the refusers. That is enough. The ministry, now led by a nationalist-religious demagogue, promised "to consider the matter".
These cases of a new McCarthyism concern, of course, only leftists. No one demands the dismissal of the rabbi who prohibits the selling or renting of apartments to Arabs [Palestinian survivors of the Naqba who became second class Israeli citizens]. Or the rabbi who wrote that under certain conditions it is permissible to kill non-Jews, including children. Their salaries are paid by the state.
Many millions around the world must by now have seen the Nabi Saleh footage. It is impossible to assess the extent of the damage.
It is not that this clip is especially revolting. Nothing terrible happens. It is the face of the occupation, the present face of Israel, that imprints itself on the minds of the viewers...
...The Israel that presents itself to the world now is a state of occupiers, of oppressors, of brutal colonizers, of soldiers armed to the teeth who arrest people in the middle of the night and persecute them during the day.
This face changes the perception of Israel throughout the world. Every TV clip and news item adds imperceptibly to this change. The attitude of ordinary people around the world, also including Jews, is changed. The damage is lasting and probably irremediable.
The terrified face of young Muhammad Tamimi may well haunt us for a long time to come."
Obs: Uri Avnery comenta o vídeo que publiquei no blog da semana passada. O episódio anterior ao qual ele se refere, do outro menino assassinado cuja foto mostro acima, ocorreu em 2011. A vítima foi Muhammad Bilal Abdul Salam Al-Tamini. Os ativistas israelenses do +972mag relatam o episódio no seguinte site: http://972mag.com/when-a-child-becomes-an-enemy/13767/.
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