Not Israel’s favourite song
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairperson of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, has questioned the Australian Broadcasting Commission about program content that apparently endorses genocide and the destruction of the State of Israel.
Dvir Abramovich
Dr Abramovich stated today that presenter Margaret Throsby’s guest on ABC Classic FM’s ‘Midday’ program on 25 February 2013 was the visiting Egyptian writer, Ahduf Soueif. Soueif is an Egyptian novelist and a political and cultural commentator.
‘Midday’ offers its guests the opportunity to request particular musical pieces. On the program in question, Soueif’s final choice was the song ‘Jerusalem, Flower of Cities’ by the singer Feiruz (Feyrouz). Its lyrics speak of the so-called occupation of Jerusalem and conclude with a call to arms, viz.:
“The striking fury is on its way, and I am full of faith!
The striking fury is on its way, and I will overcome the sadness
From every direction, it is coming! … On the horses of awe, it is coming!
And there is no doubt about it, it is coming!
The gates of our city will not be locked, for I am heading there to pray
I will knock on the doors… And the doors shall be opened
And you, O Jordan River, will wash my face with holy water
And you, O Jordan River, will erase the trace of the barbaric feet
The striking fury is on its way! On the horses of awe, it is coming!
And it will conquer the meagre power!
Bethlehem is ours! Jerusalem is ours!
And with our hands we will return the glow of Jerusalem
With our hands, peace will be brought upon Jerusalem
Peace is coming to Jerusalem!
Peace is coming to Jerusalem! It is coming!”
Abramovich continued: “I have written to Throsby stating that ‘Jerusalem, Flower of Cities’ anticipates and prays for the destruction of the State of Israel. To put it more bluntly, it calls for the genocide of Israel’s Jewish population and the destruction of a member of the United Nations , which also happens to be a close ally of Australia.”
“While I understand that the ABC seeks to respect the choices made by its guests for musical items, I must assume that it has guidelines in this regard. I am sure, for example, that it would not play a song calling for the destruction of Australia‘s indigenenous people.”
“’Jerusalem, Flower of Cities’ is easy to find on YouTube where the lyrics, both in Arabic and in English translation, appear as subtitles. I have asked Throsby whether
it is normal ABC practice to ascertain the content of songs played on its various programs. If so, can it be assumed that these genocidal lyrics have the ABC’s endorsement? If not, how can such shoddy processes be allowed? I look forward with interest to a prompt response to these questions.”
Jerusalem is theirs? Mmm! Novelist as mega-propogandist, by the sound of it.
Still, I have to wonder if Throsby knew? Surely she didn’t? She has never come over, as bearing That Particular Tinge. One has to hope that it was all down to “a most regrettable error” or “an unfortunate oversight due to lack of editorial vigilance.”
Ladies, dream away, no one has the guts to stand up and tell it like it is.
We say never again, yet I fear we are treading the same path
Im surprised at the lack of interest in the Jewish community, on several issues including judges, why is this?
Peter Singer is the only legal beagle I can recall off the top of my head that always steps up and to be counted.
the problem is that Palestinian advocates have become very knowledgeable and hasbara has become repetitive use of smear, abuse and slander.
Good for you, Dvir. I trust we’ll get to hear of the answers to your two questions. And that will be more than interesting.
Ahdaf Soueif showed herself to be extremely aggressive, and outspoken, about Israel on ABC TV1’s Q&A, hosted by Tony Jones, last Monday night (25/02/13). She turned on its head the idea that Israel faced an existential threat and went on to say how every attempt at peace talks had been stymied or destroyed by Israel! She took every opportunity to insert scathing and specific anti-Israel comments into discussions of other agendas. To my knowledge, none of us, including myself until now, has reacted to this. Of course, she can say what she likes on the kind of panel programme Q&A is, however unfortunately it was not countered by anybody at the time.
She’s since been in Sydney and she’ll be part of the Adelaide Writer’s Festival, a major Australian literary event, at which no doubt she’ll use the opportunity to strut her stuff again, although presumably she’s there as a novelist. Mind you, it’s more than likely panel discussions will be organised along cultural/political/humanity lines. We really need some strong, articulate, aggressive Jewish speakers as counter-measures to what is amounting to a continual international onslaught against Israel, and more indirectly Jews, as the damage is mounting.