#MusiciansForPalestine: Now, more than ever
Sept. 2022
Today it is more important than ever for musicians around the world to speak together in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Israel’s decades-old system of violent oppression against Indigenous Palestinians is receiving massive financial, military and political support from the complicit West and, as a result, is enjoying an unprecedented level of impunity.
This allows Israel to intensify its violent repression, siege, ethnic cleansing and daily terror against Palestinians without fearing any serious consequences.
Last year, after apartheid Israel’s May 2021 bombardments of besieged Gaza, hundreds of artists around the world signed our collective #MusiciansForPalestine letter, the goal being to direct energy, attention, love and care toward finding ways for us all to support Palestine.
This summer, Gaza experienced yet another Israeli bombardment, claiming the lives of 49 Palestinians, including 17 children, and today Gaza remains under a full military siege, for the 15th year in a row. The West Bank remains under Israeli military occupation that facilitates the ongoing theft of Palestinian land through the expansion of Israeli state backed colonial settlements.
Millions of Palestinian refugees around the world are collectively denied their UN-stipulated right to return to historic Palestine, lands that are under the control of the Israeli state. In many cases, Palestinian communities are still facing ongoing, gradual ethnic cleansing, in Al-Naqab (Negev), Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, A-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta and elsewhere.
Thousands of Palestinian political prisoners remain in Israeli jails, with hundreds held under indefinite administrative detention, without charge or trial. Palestinian students preparing for another year of studies face the daily reality of passing through Israeli military check-points where they are arbitrarily stopped, searched, and detained. These facts have been documented by important Palestinian organizations such as Addameer or Defence for Children International, whose essential human rights work is facing smears and growing repression by Israel. We #StandWithTheSix.
In order to silence all criticism and all advocacy of Palestinian rights, apartheid Israel’s occupation forces also target Palestinian journalists with violent attacks. These include the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was murdered by a bullet shot by an Israeli sniper.
Despite these repressive measures, there is a growing consensus among human rights organizations and experts worldwide that Israel is not just involved in military occupation and settler-colonialism but also in perpetrating the crime against humanity of apartheid.
As musicians we can contribute to breaking the wall of silence and protest these great injustices taking place against the Palestinian people. Many of us come from or work in states that are deeply complicit in maintaining this system of grave injustice.
We believe that now, more than ever, is the time to respect the Palestinian peaceful picket line by declining invitations to events that are subsidised or sponsored by the Israeli state, its lobby groups or complicit cultural institutions. Such events can only legitimize Israeli apartheid policies. In this context, the recent boycott of the Pop-Kultur festival in Berlin, that accepted Israeli state backing, is inspiring.
Today we share the backing of hundreds of musicians who are joining the #MusiciansForPalestine appeal to stand with Palestine.
Love, respect and solidarity.
Sept. 2022.
#MusiciansforPalestine organizing group
2021 And Beyond - Musicians For Palestine - All Rights Preserved
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