ABC and ADC see things differently
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairperson of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, has criticised the Australian Broadcasting Commission for dismissing the ADC’s recent complaint about a song played on ABC Classic FM’s ‘Midday’ program on 25 February.
Dvir Abramovich
The song, ‘Jerusalem, Flower of Cities’, speaks of the so-called occupation of Jerusalem and concludes with a call to arms against the occupiers. The ADC had alleged that the lyrics incited genocide and the expulsion of Jews from Israel.
In its response, ABC representative Mark Maley acknowledged that the song “…laments the loss of Arab control of Jerusalem and looks forward to a time when control of the city can be regained by force.” Maley then noted that ‘Jerusalem, Flower of Cities’ “…is highly political and implicitly incites military action. However, based on the lyrics you have quoted and we have also viewed on You Tube, it does not incite genocide or the expulsion of the Jews….”
Dr Abramovich stated that the ADC is dissatisfied with this response and has advised the ABC that it accordingly may pursue its complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
“In his letter to the ADC, Maley accepts that ‘Jerusalem, Flower of Cities’ calls for violence to gain control of Jerusalem, the most sacred location for Jews worldwide and not incidentally the city declared by the State of Israel as its capital. This song demands a “striking fury” and conquering “the meagre power”. It is poetic and metaphorical. Hence while it may not explicitly use the words “genocide” or “expulsion of the Jews”, I have written back to the ABC, suggesting that is exactly what it is talking about. As such, the ABC’s response is both inadequate and bewildering.”
The ABC is perfectly correct; the lyrics quoted do no call for genocide or expulsion. However, in view of the previous occupation of Jerusalem by mohammedans, expulsion is a certainty especially when combined with the PA’s declaration of ethnically expelling all Jews from any future state it controls. And while not calling for genocide, its call for war implies that when combined with the cries that accompanied calls for previous aggression against Israel. The ABC is being more than a trifle precious and being simplistically literal. But equally importantly, the call for aggresssive war contravenes various UN resolutions and international laws. The ABC is sanctioning illegality and antisemitism.