Palestinians In Israel Refuse To Enlist In Israel's Army

For a really long time, Israel would not accept Palestinian enrollment in its army--those are citizens of the State of the Israel. And for the most part, Palestinian Arabs would not join the army because they do not want to be killing their brethren in Gaza and the West Bank. Both Muslims and Christian Palestinian citizens refuse to serve in the army and Israeli is happy about that.

Now, some loons in the Israel government--there are so many of them in this current government want to ask those people to serve in the army and protect Israel. So a group of ordinary young people made video for that matter where they are singing about refusing to enlist in the army that will send them to do acts that might be contrary to human rights.

See dozens of young men and women making it loud and clear, in the Israeli army we won't serve. They are all too familiar with the "Divide and Conquer  rule. Take me to prison if you may, but I ain't joining the army.

صوت فلسطيني ضد التجنيد


The lyrics of the song

I refuse to serve in the Israeli occupation forces
Even if I am sent to prison
And I know, mother, how proud you will be of me
Mother, I refuse to be recruited
And you can rest assured
That I will always revolt
Even if they torture me
I refuse to oppress my people
And stop my friends at the checkpoints
Let the freedom screams blow and roar
Down with military rule
I will liberate my land with my hands
And I will not collaborate with my oppressor
I give my heart and soul eyes for my oppressed

It's time for the occupation to end
No to negotiations and normalisation
And the right of return shall not be sold
The blood of martyrs shall not be wasted
It's time for the occupation to end

From Ramleh jail to Askalan jail
The prisoners have defeated their jailers
And shouted behind the bars:
It's time to end the occupation

The sons and daughters of Palestine
Reject the Israeli military service
And will not rest Until we end the occupation
It's time to end the occupation.

We shall liberate Palestine with our steadfastness
The people demand freedom
And we all reject recruitment and civil service with the Israeli army
The people demand freedom

Listen: The Samer Issawi Song Is Here #Palestine

As and democracy loving Israeli court denied bail for a Palestinian prisoner after calling for an emergency hearing to consider his case. The decision comes amid a 24-hour hunger strike in solidarity with Issawi and other hunger strikers held by at least 800 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.

Issawi  has become a Palestinian legend among his peers and country men. He has already inspired so mant social media activists and on the ground activists look up to him. Issawi has been refusing food for more than 200 days and his health has deteriorated rapidly since he began to refuse water.

Under Israeli military policy a prisoner may be held indefinitely without trial or charge. The United Nations has called on Israel to end this policy, known as administrative detention, and immediately release or charge detainees. I love watching Israel destroying their own image by their own actions and indifference. I do not think such actions go unnoticed anymore.

Ahmed Dari, a Jerusalem, based activist singer is out with a timely song, the songs that are not market drive. He has become one of the faces to make non-disposable songs in very disposable times. Dari isjoined this time by a new voice of Yousef Zaid. Israelis have no idea why they are detaining this man, but it looks like arrogance is only matched by his strong will.


ضلك قاوم٬ إلى سامر العيساوي من أحمد داري ويوسف زايد

My Hero Stevie Wonder Cancels On The Israel's IDF

Per US Campaign To End Israeli Occupation

Following outcries and appeals from people like you and advocates for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) around the world, renowned musician and civil rights leader Stevie Wonder cancelled his performance for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Annual Fundraiser Gala! We learned about the great news as we watched yesterday's historic vote by the UN to upgrade Palestine's status to a “non-member state,” despite the strenuous objections of the United States and Israel.

Palestinians, Israelis, Artists Against Apartheid, the US Campaign, and member groups US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott, the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, were among the many who reached out to Wonder. Three international petitions garnered more than 10,000 signatures, including 4,000 of you who signed our petition in the 24 hours directly preceding the announcement. The Jewish Telegraph Agency reported that Wonder took noteof the petitions and decided to cancel. Thanks to all who signed! 

Now Stevie needs to know that people around the world are behind him! Click here to thank Stevie for doing the right thing!

FIDF announced the cancellation yesterday, November 29th, on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People that marked 65 years since the UN voted to partition Palestine, leading to the exile and dispossession of Palestinians that continues to this day. Wonder's representatives said that the United Nations had also recommended cancellation in light of his official designation as a UN “Messenger of Peace.” Is it just us or did the United Nations just recommend cultural boycott?

Wonder’s cancellation constitutes one of the biggest victories to date for the Palestinian-led international campaign for cultural boycott of institutions complicit in Israel’s occupation and apartheid practices.

The US Campaign worked day and night on this campaign, reaching out to Wonder publicly and privately and helping mobilize thousands of individuals, organizations, and public figures around the world. But we can’t do this kind of work without your support.  

If you believe in us continuing and expanding this important work, we hope you will consider giving us a donation today. 

Activists in Los Angeles are planning a demonstration against the gala, which glorifies and raises money to support the Israeli military that enforces Israel’s occupation and apartheid policies, violating the fundamental human rights of Palestinians. The fundraiser will take place next Thursday, December 6th. Click here to join the Facebook event page for details, endorsements, and updates! If you are not on Facebook, we have also posted details on our Stevie Wonder Campaign webpage here. If you are in Los Angeles, you won’t want to miss this protest!

Stevie Wonder’s decision illustrates the mainstreaming and growing power of the global BDS movement. It is by working together in coalition to continue mounting pressure on Israel and complicit U.S. institutions that the Palestinians’ rights to freedom, justice, and equality can one day be realized.  

Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely

Watch Artists and Alternative Subcultures in Gaza

Electronic Intifada had a post and the video below about the subcultures in Gaza where young people use art to speak to a global audience. Dancing, singing, painting, musicians  and more. The artists have a lot of issues to revolve with the community, but they are not slowing down.

They are teaching what little they know to the young people, dance troupe, painters and rappers all over the map of Gaza who want to tell a Palestinians story from the besieged Gaza. This is a heart warming tale of people who put up with a siege yet refuse to be broken and shattered souls. While their dreams might be born out of struggle, they have to exist and live with adversity from the locals.

Artists also have to run for their lives in Gaza like everyone else, but their contribution and voices will live through us.

 "Not a Dreamland" Artists and Alternative Subcultures in Gaza

Lena Chamamyan Boycotts Festival Due To Israeli Embassy Involvement

Syrian Lena Chamamyan will no longer appear in a music festival in Austria, the diva has stated she will boycott the European music event due to the participation of one Israeli band. In her statements, Lena "refuses to be part of a program that has the Israeli embassy log imprinted on the book" The Music Festival was set for October 30 2012 under the banner "Salam Orient 20102"

Her press release goes "I have no issues with the Jewish faith, culture or human being" My issue is the dealing of the Israeli government its policies that steals lands form the natives and their walls of separations they erect. My must has always been about tearing down walls not building them. The City of Damascus is her home and her heritage is Armenian. She resides in Paris, France. It seemed that the organizers feature the Israeli Embassy logo on Lena's event page--something she loathes seeing. And they insisted on her to perform with an Israeli band.

We all have opinions, but we need to be respectful of Lena's wishes. She wishes not to be part of a program that has been endorsed by a government that has shown nothing but ill action against its neighbors. I have written before about Lena and her work, she is a true star with a heart of gold. Her music is about the power of dreams and not the nightmares that Israel has been offering to others.  

I understand that while there are many worthy Israeli musicians who also love peace and work for it, it complicated things when official governments gets involved. I understand the Israelis do not want to talk to governments in the Middle East to achieve peace, but they do not mind singing about it in Europe and pretending to want it for everyone. 

Lena Chamamyan - Yamma Lala


About Lena's musical training
Throughout her university education, she joined many workshops in the field of classic music with Gloria Skalki (Italy ) Karmen Filarna ( Italy ) Mia bits ( Netherlands ). She also joined Jazz workshops, most importantly, with the German Accordionist ( Manfred leuschter ).this resulted in lena and Manfred featured on each others albums and many concerts in Syria and Germany . She also worked with many vocalists and musicians of different nationalities in many jazz festivals in Syria.