Jello Biafra - Thoughts On Visit To Israel

[azurnoir]

So now I have been to Israel. I have also been to Palestine. At least I got a taste of the place, but not in the way I originally hoped.

Many people reading this know the uproar and complicated reasons my band, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School Of Medicine pulled out of a July 2nd show scheduled in Tel Aviv. In many ways I really wish we had played. But I also share most of the boycott's supporters' feelings about Israel's government, the occupation, and ongoing human rights violations.

I hope people take the time to understand how deeply this has torn at the fabric of our band. The promoter in Tel Aviv lost thousands, and I am eating thousands more in lost and re-booked airfares that I have no idea how I am going to pay, or how I will pay my bills for the rest of the year. Real human beings got hurt here.

This whole controversy has been one of the most intense situations of my life—and I thrive on intense situations. But the rest of the band was not used to this. How fair was it to drag them in in the first place? This is not like fighting Tipper Gore and the LAPD, greedy ex-Dead Kennedys members or more-radical-than-thou thugs who think it's OK to put someone in the hospital for being a "sellout." I gradually felt like I had gotten in over my head sticking my nose into one of the longest and nastiest conflicts on earth. I'd gotten as close as I wanted to one of those Herzog movies like "Fitzcarraldo" or "Aguirre, the Wrath of God." A responsible leader does not go, "Hey, check out that big storm at the top of Mt. Everest. Let's go up anyway just to see what happens."

So with the roller coaster still in my stomach and my head, I flew solo to Israel instead. The mission: to check things out myself and hopefully at least get closer to some kind of conclusion on whether artists boycotting Israel, especially me, is really the best way to help the Palestinian people. The same idea as before, but sadly, no gig.


http://www.alternativetentacles.com/page.php?page=jello_israel

the article continues with experiences and observations good and not so good

[DesertFlower]

1. interesting. nt

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Fantastic and thought-provoking article. Thanks for posting it, Az...

Very, very long, and I'm going to go back and reread it later, but I'm really glad he went and saw for himself and went to Palestine as well as Israel.

The end of the article raised something I've been thinking about for a while when it comes to musicians boycotting Israel:

'I will not perform in Israel unless it is a pro-human rights, anti-occupation event, that does not violate the spirit of the boycott. Each musician, artist, etc. must decide this for themselves. I am staying away for now, but am also really creeped out by the attitudes of some of the hardliners and hope some day to find a way to contribute something positive here. I will not march or sign on with anyone who runs around calling people Zionazis and is more interested in making threats than making friends.'

PeaceNow or another Israeli peace group should think about organising an anti-occupation event and invite Jello and ones like the Pixies who have pulled out of playing in Israel because of the boycott. I could so feel and understand the disappointment of those he talked to who'd missed out on seeing his band play there, and that way fans don't miss out and it's for a very good cause...

[azurnoir]

6. your most welcome

sometimes here on this forum (soon to be group:)) we see people who support BDS depicted as unthinking haters who advocate for the destruction of Israel this pointd to someone who is none of those things

[mdmc]

3. would like to rec

..

[provis99]

4. he's got a feud going with the dead Kennedys?

Interesting.

[azurnoir]

5. yes quite long running too it's over royalties n/t

[ret5hd]

7. excellent.