About the diverse Israeli culture. This blog focus on the positive diverse faces of Israel and is a political blog and it covers my personal taste in music, films, TV-shows and news.
The Arab-Palestinian Israeli version of Cosby has returned with season 2 of this world famous series.This show marked a milestone on Israeli television as the first program to present Arab-Palestinian characters speaking Arabic on primetime, and it generated great controversy between Arab and Israeli media.
Created by Sayed Kashua, an Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor(translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit”, which colloquially implies “shoddy or second-rate work”) focuses on Amjad Alian, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity. Poking fun at the cultural divide, Kashua and his characters play on religious, cultural and political differences to daringly depict the mixed society that is Israel.
When father Amjad moves into a Jewish neighborhood, he is mistaken for a terrorist and an IDF soldier.
What I really enjoy about theses series is that it is making fun of the stereotypes of both Israeli jews and arabs. No side is depicted better than the other. And it is damn fun to watch and deliberating. As propalestinian groups keep watching depressing propaganda movies that is deeply biased like "Tears of Gaza" and "the ground speaks arabic" this is really what they should watch! Because here the ground speaks both arabic and hebrew and it works very well together!
Thank you Sayed for yet a wonderful season to look forward to!
En aktuell händelse anknyter han till: Det fanns två systrar. Den ena höll på att dö och kvinnan i Golan, i Israel bad om tillstånd att få åka till Syrien för att kunna ta ett sista farväl innan den arabiska kvinnan i Syrien skulle dö. Hon beviljades tillstånd att åka till Syrien av Netanyahu. och de båda arabiska systrarna kunde ta farväl av varandra.
I Syrien dog igår en arabisk kvinna, hennes sista önskan var att få träffa sin make och sina söner som satt fängslade i Damaskus. Hennes sista önskan avslogs.
Är verkligen bilden av Israel rättvis? Är bilden av fredsprocessen och situationen rättvis? Nej Israel blir orättvist behandlad...detta kan även araber i exil från sina arabiska hemländer uttrycka.
Här finns hela texten på arabiska skriven av Ahed Elhendi, en arab från Syrien.
هل سمعتم بتركية احمد زيدان وبهالة احمد زيدان؟؟
تركية تعيش في قرية مسعدة المحتلة وهالة في قرية حضر من الجانب "الغير محتل" من سوريا لأن تركية كانت على فراش الموت سمحت حكومة نتنياهو لهالة بالعبور إلى الجزء المحتل وزيارة اختها في الجانب المحتل.
اما بالنسبة للجانب الغير محتل في وطننا، السيد امية ام محمد، زوجة الكاتب علي العبدالله،، توفيت وكانت قبلها تصارع الموت وعاشت فترة في غيبوبة وخضعت لعمليات عدة وحكومة الممانعة والمقاومة والصمود والتصدي لم تسمح لأبنها عمر السجين بالخروج لرؤيتها والمحكوم منذ خمس سنوات لتعبيره عن رايه، ولم تسمح لعلي العبدالله حتى بالخروج في تاريخ اطلاق سراحه المحدد بل حاكمته بتهم جديدة وابقته في المعتقل لكتابته مقال في السجن، ولن تسمح بالتأكيد لابنها محمد المنفي في امريكا من رؤية امه قبل وفاتها. توفيت ام محمد دون ان ترى ابناءها و زوجها ودون ان يرف جفن لسيادة الرئيس "الإنساني" الذي لاتفتئ الصحف الغربية مؤخراً في في النشر عن انسانيته وزوجته المصون. لا اعرف ان توفيت تركية احمد زيدان، بعد ان رأت اختها و. لكن متأكد أن في سرها شكرت حكومة الإحتلال على رؤية اختها. اما ام محمد فلا اعرف اي صورة كانت ترسمها في مخيلتها قبل وفاتها لهذا الوحش البشري الذي حرمها من رؤية اولادها وزوجها ولم يرأف بوضعها الصحي كما فعل نتنياهو مع تركية احمد زيدان
Is the statement above a sign of israelophobia? Yes clearly it is I argue.
On the internet arab bloggers and composers are mad of Israel because of Israeli artists are "stealing" their music. Instead of thinking of it as a an israeli tribute to arab music and an act of antiracism the Egyptian composer and artist Amr Mustafa chose to view it as stealing. In Youtube there are several israeli tributes to arab music labelled as "zionists stealing" arab music. However Amr Mustafa only mention Israeli artists buying copyright from Egyptian music companies but not the turkish and lebanese and greeks aswell copy egyptian music and Egyptian copying Turkish music.
This approach to israeli cultures use of the middle eastern herritage is something I faced myself when I once played an israeli mizrahi song with a traditional oriental style. An arab then commented and asked what language it was sung in. I told him that it is in Hebrew and Arabic and it was Israeli artists performing the song. His instant reaction was that it was stealing arab music,however that song was purely original israeli (Ishtar - Yahad).
Why this sentiment that a love for the culture is stealing and why this only is
referred to when it comes to Israel?
A little bit more of Arab composers "stealing" israeli compositions maybe would
contribute to peace.
Below Eti Bitton's interpretation of one of Amr Mustafas hit songs:
A fire has hit the Carmel forest in nearby Haifa area in Northern Israel. This is How Israeli comedians give their view on this topic. A cover of We didn't start the fire but with new hebrew lyrics. Meanwhile it is interesting that Iraqi Christians are spreading a rumour that Israel was behind the recent killing of Christians in Bagdad Church. And another ridiculous accusation was made by South Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha claiming that Israel was behind the new shark attacks in Egypt. It is sad and hilarious to see how Jews and Israel always are blamed for everything they haven't done and how little self- criticism there is in the Middle East.
Egypt Governor: 'Mossad may be behind Red Sea shark attacks':
The Equivalent for Christmas in the Jewish religion is the Hanukkah or the "light festival". And in the coming year (2011) it will be in the same time as Christmas.
It has many things in common with Christmas. Just like Swedes light candles for every week before Christmas the Jews in Israel and around the world light the Mennorah, the eight candles for every day in this holiday. The holiday is to remember how the jews got rid of the Greek God Zeus from the Temple in Jerusalem. And the eight candles are there to remember the oil lamp that burned for 8 days in the temple.
In this period you eat special food for Hannukah aswell as singing special songs like we do in Christmas time.
Instead of getting presents 1 day like Christians, jewish children get gifts for every day during this 8 days celebration.
In Christmas times there are a lot of Christmas songs displayed in TV and radio but very few Hanukkah songs. Jewish-American reggae star Matisyahu made this very catchy song this year. "Miracle"is the song and involves a mix of snow, Santa Claus mennorah and characters from the Hanukkah story.
An uplifting pop gem arriving just in time for the holiday, "Miracle," produced by Dr. Luke protégé Kool Kojak (Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Ke$ha), is drenched in a joyful spirit and features chiming synths, bouncing beats and an irresistible chorus.
Matisyahu says, "There are so many Christmas songs out there. I wanted to give the Jewish kids something to be proud of. We've got Adam Sandler's song, which is hilarious, but I wanted to try to get across some of the depth and spirituality inherent in the holiday in a fun, celebratory song. My boy Kojak was in town so at the last minute we went into the studio in the spirit of miracles and underdogs and this is what we came up with. Happy Hannukah!"
Lyrics of "Miracle":
Just livin’ in the miracle, candles are my vehicle Eight nights, gonna shine invincible No longer be divisible, born through the struggle Keep on moving through all this hustle Head up, heads down through all of the bustle New York City wanna flex your muscle Look so down, look so puzzled Huddle ‘round your fire through all the rubble
Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
[Chorus] Do you believe in miracles Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you? Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle
Against all odds drive on till tomorrow Wipe away your tears and your sorrow Sunrise in the sky like an arrow No need to worry, no need to cry Light up your mind no longer be blind Him who searches will find Leave your problems behind you will shine like a fire in the sky what's the reason we’re alive – the reason we’re alive… Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all Bound to stumble and fall but my strength comes not from man at all
[Chorus] Do you believe in miracles Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you? Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle
Eight is the number of infinity one more than what you know how to be And this is the light of festivity when your broken heart yearns to be free
[Chorus] Do you believe in miracles Am I hearing you? Am I seeing you? Eight nights eight lights and these rites keep me right Bless me to the highest heights with your miracle
Israeli mizrahi singer Mariaje releases a new song dedicated to the president of Iran saying that his reign will soon come to an end. Cute song which compares Achmadinejad to the Bibles story about a Persian leader that tried to kill all Jews in Persia, Haman. Haman was however not successful and ended up hanged himself on order from the Persian king because of his hateful plan. Hate will never be successful!
The Song:
Well here is the lyrics to the song:
Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad is still to get his verdict
This is the end of all evil hate to Israel
How the world is in chaos because of a small dwarf
this dwarf reminds us all of Haman
His hatred of us strong and deep
Inshallah we will introduce the smurf to Mecca
Do not say we did not say what will happen
Even your evil end will come you'll see
Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad is still to get his verdict
This is the end of all evil hate to Israel
Like Saddam before him he threatens with missiles
We have a strong army and the Book of Psalms!
Finally he finds the rope on neck
Like Haman he is going to end up the same way
Do not say we did not say what will happen
Even your evil end will come you'll see
Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad is still to get his verdict
This is the end of all evil hate to Israel
השנאה שלו אלינו חזקה ועמוקה אינשאללה לדרדס עוד נכניס את המכה
אל תגיד שלא אמרנו מה יהיה גם סופך רשע יגיע - עוד תראה.
אחמדינג'אד אחמדינג'אד את עונשו עוד יקבל זה סופו של כל רשע ששונא את ישראל
כמו סאדם לפניו מאיים הוא עם טילים לנו יש צבא חזק וגם ספר תהילים!
בסופו הוא ימצא את החבל על צוואר כמו המן הרשע הוא יגמור אותו דבר
אל תגיד שלא אמרנו מה יהיה גם סופך רשע יגיע - עוד תראה.
אחמדינג'אד אחמדינג'אד את עונשו עוד יקבל זה סופו של כל רשע ששונא את ישראל
Shlomi Saranga is an Israeli mizrahi singer (eastern/oriental style) often singing in a greek style. Here he breaks into the old Egyptian style covering one of the Arab Worlds most famous songs and most famous singers, Abdel Halim Hafez. Teh refrain is kept in original arabic while the main lyrics is in hebrew but follows the old arabic way of singing lyrics addressing the singers lover as a male example "reveal to him, tell him he is the one in my heart". The song is recorded by this israelis artist together with a real arabic orchestra and with some of the musicans that has played with the original singer Abdel Halim Hafez whose love life was as as sad as this song since he could never marry the love of his life due to the family of the girl he loved did not accept him. When they finally did accept him she was already ill and died very quickly.
This song is not entirely new to the Israelis as it was featured in an israeli comedy show, performed in arabic. I will give you both of the clips here
