19/07/2011 / ISRAEL - LEBANON
Lebanese belly-dancer raises eyebrows after performing on stage with Israeli heavy metal band
That a heavy metal band and a belly dancer perform together is unusual enough. When the band is Israeli and the dancer Lebanese, the performance raises quite a few eyebrows. But when the performers choose to brandish their respective countries' flags side by side on stage, you have all the ingredients for a potentially volatile mix.
On Sunday, June 19, Israeli heavy metal band Orphaned Land performed alongside Franco-Lebanese belly dancer Johanna Fakhri at the Hellfest music festival in the western French town of Clisson. Cooperating with belly dancers has become a trademark for the band, which makes a point of using its music to bring Israelis and Arabs closer together. But this was the first time the group shared a stage with a Lebanese artist.
The gesture is far from inconsequential. Lebanon and Israel remain technically at war. The Jewish state is considered an enemy and any dealing with Israelis is considered criminal under Lebanese law. Orphaned Land lead singer Kobi Fahri told Israeli website Ynetnews that it was Fakhri who had insisted on bringing the flags onstage, despite his concerns that she would be criticized in her homeland. Unsurprisingly, online videos of the performance have sparked a wave of comments, ranging from admiration to shock and anger.
"What Johanna Fakhry and Orphaned Land did is an example of moral courage"
Roi Ben Yehuda is a New York-based Israeli writer and blogger. He published Johanna Fakhry’s response to the dozens of angry messages she received after the performance on his blog.
I think the people angry at this joint performance fall into two camps: The first are those who reject anything positive associated with an “enemy” country or its people. To them Israel/Lebanon is the epitome of evil and one does not dance/play with evil. The second are those who reject any type of activity deemed as “normalization”; which is based on the principle that as long as Israel is an occupying power there should be no contact [between Israelis and others] that expresses a sense of sympathy, symmetry and solidarity.
I disagree with both of these camps. First of all I think that what Johanna Fakhry (and Orphaned Land) did is an example of moral courage – standing up for your values despite all the people (across the world) who would want you to sit down. They should be commended for that. Second, as someone who studies conflict resolution, I’m convinced there is no better way of positively transforming the conflict between Israel and its neighbors without first (or at least concomitantly) transforming the minds and hearts of the people. This, needless to say, is not likely to be achieved through separation. Finally, such artistic collaborations show people there is another way to respond to all the violence and suffering: a way that is at once respectful of identity yet universal.
That being said, a flag is a symbolic address. By brandishing a flag both Fakhry and Orphaned Land can be interpreted as speaking for more than themselves. Naturally, people who don’t agree with them will resent them for doing so.
I think art can influence politics in a positive direction – although it may not have instant and visible success. Non-political music, like Orphaned Land, does so by creating a space for an inclusive salient identity that circumvents the divisive discourse of the conflict. At the end of the day, if a song rocks, it rocks equally in Tel-Aviv, Beirut, or Ankara: fans in those cities will have formed some kind of ties – based on shared values – with each other."
"I can’t see how anything good could come from this"
Ziad Feghali is a Lebanese video game designer. He lives in Juniyah, north of Beirut.
I find this kind of initiative totally absurd. Clearly the dancer involved has no idea what it is like to live in Lebanon today [Johanna Fakhry is based in Paris]. We hear the drums of beating from Israel every day. It is pointless to fly our flags together, that only adds fuel to a constantly burning fire.
Under Lebanese law, it is illegal for a Lebanese citizen to have any form of public dealing with Israelis, because we are technically still at war. If Fakhry were a higher-profile dancer or lived in Lebanon, she would probably get into trouble with authorities. And she would certainly get into trouble with her neighbours – the vast majority of Lebanese feel angered and betrayed by her kind of behaviour.
I don’t see how anything good could come from this. There is a path for peace, but this is not a step in the right direction. Real, useful steps would be Israeli leaders around the negotiating table willing to acknowledge – and compensate for – all the lives lost, the human suffering, the damage done.”
Post written with FRANCE 24 journalist Lorena Galliot.
Comments
amazing!
Submitted by Rankin MIke (not verified) on Thu, 11/08/2011 - 11:03.kol hakavod to Orphaned Land and Johanna Fakhri for taking this brave step. well done!
BROTHERS OF METAL UNITE!!!
SOOOOO Wrong
Submitted by Led Grow Lights Guru (not verified) on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 15:49.This is so wrong on so many levels. I agree that nothing good comes out of this. So ignorant.
Dear Ziad, I am Israeli and I
Submitted by Leonel208 (not verified) on Fri, 05/08/2011 - 14:09.Dear Ziad,
I am Israeli and I wanted to say to you that Orphaned Land is a great band, their message of peace and love for all nations is well known worldwide and especially in the Middle East.
I see the dehumanization, demonization and deligitimization of Israel as the Jewish state and the whole Jewish people day by day all over the Islamic-Arabic world. Jew hatred is all over. the "conflict" with Lebanon is just an excuse to justify the struggle against the "Zionist Entity" as they call us.
I saw how Lebanon transformed from the "Riviere of the Mid. East" into a country enslaved to the Ayatulla's Jihadist regime! Lebanon used to be Christian, now, many places are under Sharia law. Chrisitians can be free only in their own safe-zones. Since Arafat came to Lebanon this country became Hell, and you and many other Lebanes are blaming Israel in all your shit and mistakes.
You and your freinds, so called moderates, helped to convert this beautiful country into Hizballa state.
Nowadays Christian Arabs are living mostly in the west just because their "peacefull" neighbors, nothing to do with Israel which is ONLY defending itself since its day of independence.
I admire the belly dancer.
Long live Israel. Long live FREE Lebanon.
Peace and Love to all
Shabat Shalom!
it's about time :)
Submitted by Elias. (not verified) on Tue, 26/07/2011 - 08:11.it's about time :)
Wonderful!!
Submitted by Danniel Qeletti on Sat, 23/07/2011 - 18:35.WISH that ALL people here were like that = cooperating in Peace and Brotherhood!!
Like
Submitted by JustMe (not verified) on Fri, 22/07/2011 - 12:24.I m from lebanon, and i appreciate what Johanna and Orphaned Land did. i m sure that none of Orphaned Land members was firing on the lebanese. We should start knowing the difference between Israel as a government and Israeli people like Kobi Fahri (Lead singer) and the other members who are preaching for peace in all the world. Like we, the lebanese ppl, have a problem calling us terrorists, we shouldn t blame Israeli citizens who preach for peace as evil. So again, seeing the Lebanese and Israeli flags on the same stage, and Johanna and Orphaned Land performin together is a big step.
As Kobi Fahri said:
There is no other way than music to educate ourselves and listen to each other."
So don t ruin music because of ur bullshits
SHE HAS GOT METAL!
Submitted by ABDELKADER EL HAMDAOUI (not verified) on Thu, 21/07/2011 - 21:53.There is hope yet for a positive young generation.
James
Submitted by James (not verified) on Thu, 21/07/2011 - 17:36.This shows no compromise only a demand for the Israelis to apologize and make compensation. War takes two sides, not just one. It is from the seeds of individuals like this, who are willing to put aside their political differences. It's like jumping and dancing on all the bodies of innocent people slaughtered by the freak called Israel.
Lebanon/Israel Cooperation
Submitted by Wulf (not verified) on Thu, 21/07/2011 - 00:25.I applaud their cooperation. If nothing else it brings the issue to light at least. As for the comment about it should be the Israeli leaders at the table, this shows no compromise only a demand for the Israelis to apologize and make compensation. War takes two sides, not just one. It is from the seeds of individuals like this, who are willing to put aside their political differences, that the flower of peace will grow. This is assuming it is not cut down by the sickle of hatred and narrow-mindedness.
Dislike
Submitted by F.B. (not verified) on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 22:44.Sorry but this seems like the worst type of evil, really...
It's like jumping and dancing on all the bodies of innocent people slaughtered by the freak called Israel.
I am forgiving and peaceful, but no, not before justice is made;
Otherwise the freak will keep practicing its activities and make of us its slaves, just like this so called dancer Johanna Fakhri.
The show would have been nice if it was strictly human and really global as music is without any flags or camps...