UK Union Considers Ban On Israeli Musicians

Jerusalem Post ^

[RCW2001]

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BARRY DAVIS in Jerusalem and DOUGLAS DAVIS in London

Jan. 20, 2003

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Strenuous efforts are under way to defeat a resolution to ban Israeli musicians from appearing in Britain and British musicians from appearing in Israel, that is being debated in London on Monday.

If approved, the ban, which has been proposed by members of the 30,000-strong British Musicians Union, would remain in force until Israel withdraws from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

An Israeli Embassy official in London said Sunday that among those actively lobbying against a "bad decision" is the British Council, which has a cultural agreement with Israel that includes exchanges of musicians.

The resolution to be debated by the union, said the Israeli official, is "against the interests of the British Council, which is working hard to prevent it."

The Paris-based Simon Wiesenthal Center has also weighed into the debate, declaring that such a ban "would violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the European Union."

The center's Dr. Shimon Samuels has written to BMU secretary-general John Smith, saying that "the exclusion of musicians based upon religious, ethnic, or national grounds harks back to Nazi Germany. Thus, even considering such a motion would betray British history and the open international traditions of trade unionism."

He noted that "musical talent should know no borders nor nationality," and he called on the union "to reject all attempts to politicize the one gift that transcends conflict."

"The motion to be tabled would encourage extremism and further terror, while discrediting the power of music to bind and soothe the victims of Middle East violence," he said.

In Israel, Red Sea Jazz Festival artistic director Danny Gottfried said he was shocked by the resolution.

"This is a dangerous move. They are liable to take punitive action against us and to prevent work permits being issued for Israeli artists who want to appear in Britain."

Yossi Tal-Gan, director of the Israel Festival, is also concerned about the effect the proposal may have and said he was appalled by the move. "The mere fact that such an issue is proposed for debate by the British Musicians Union contravenes the fundamental spirit of art and music," he said.

Over the years, the Israel Festival program has featured a large number of British musicians, particularly from the classical music field.
If the resolution is adopted, Tal-Gan's plans for this year's festival could be seriously affected.

"There are a large number of British ensembles, like the English Consort, which appeared here last year and with which we have worked in the past," he said. "We plan to bring over quite a few British musicians, primarily classical, for this year's festival too.

"British artists have always been happy to come here. Despite reports that they are wary about coming to Israel, they came two years ago and last year, and want to play at this year's festival as well."

Tal-Gan notes that British musicians have always put their political views to one side. "They make a clear distinction between politics and the arts. I would be very sorry if a ban was imposed on British musicians appearing in Israel."

The Israeli Musicians Union has dispatched its own emissary, former Netanya Symphony Orchestra conductor Sam Lewis, who is also a member of the British union, to participate in the debate.

A ban on Israeli musicians, if approved and if applied, would also have consequences in Britain, presumably removing such Israeli superstars as Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zuckerman, Yitzhak Perlman, and Zubin Mehta from the British musical firmament.

But it would go much further, as all of these artists often perform in Britain with other maestros and with major international orchestras.
Last week, for example, Barenboim appeared to much critical acclaim at the Royal Festival Hall in London with Berlin's Staatskapelle Orchestra performing the four Brahms symphonies on two successive nights. In 2000, the orchestra appointed Barenboim its chief conductor for life. He is also musical director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Barenboim and his friend, the Arab-American intellectual Edward Said, also organize annual Israeli-Palestinian musical workshops. The two were honored by Spain with the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord last October in recognition of their work to promote peace.

The Guardian, a left-leaning London-based daily, last year described the 109-year-old musicians union as "a left-wing, doctrinaire organization as secretive and tight-lipped as the KGB."

According to the paper, "If it's widely known for anything, it's for imposing a labyrinth of infuriating bureaucratic restrictions on the performance or recording of music."

The union is also known for taking decisions that have not always served the interests of its members. Until the end of the 1950s, for example, the union prohibited American musicians from performing in Britain because, it was argued, they would be taking work from British musicians.

The decision was reversed only when the American Federation of Musicians reciprocated by prohibiting British artists from performing in the US.

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[yonif]

The doors are closing...

[Brilliant]

As in Revelation, you must have the mark in order to sell your services.

[xJones]

How could they turn down "such Israeli superstars as Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zuckerman, Yitzhak Perlman, and Zubin Mehta"? I guess great artists come second to politics/anti-semitism for these idiots. Unbelievable....

I was born and grew up well past WWII and thought (how stupid) that anti-semitism had gone the way of the KKK, the Nazis, all that insanity. I should have known that anti-semitism never really goes away, it just retreats to dark corners of the world and waits a while. And while it's possible to be anti-Israel but not anti-semitic, don't tell me these idiots aren't both.

[Thud]

So we kick out all the British artists here again. BFD.

"The union is also known for taking decisions that have not always served the interests of its members. Until the end of the 1950s, for example, the union prohibited American musicians from performing in Britain because, it was argued, they would be taking work from British musicians.

The decision was reversed only when the American Federation of Musicians reciprocated by prohibiting British artists from performing in the US.

[white trash redneck]

In the warmest EUropean heart there is always a cold spot for the Jews.

[Alouette]

How could they turn down "such Israeli superstars as Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zuckerman, Yitzhak Perlman, and Zubin Mehta"?

Not to mention Dana International!

[Marc M. Harris]

We should remember that Judaism is a religion. Israel is a political state.

According to http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html#People

the political state of Israel is composed of the following ethnic groups:

Ethnic groups:
Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%, Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish 19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.)

If this "issue" is going to be debated in a logical manner, THE issue needs to discussed and not some OTHER issue.

Anti-Semitism is not only non-PC, but clearly wrong.

On the other hand, I believe the issue at hand has nothing to do with Judaism. It has to do with the politics of the state of Israel.

In the words of Friedrich Neitzche, "He who fights monsters should look into it that he himself does not become a monster. When you gaze long into the Abyss, the Abyss also gazes into you."

Alternatively, one Jewish proverb state that if God lived on earth, people would break his windows.

Let's stick with the issue and not allow others to divert us from the real ISSUE under discussion.

Marc M. Harris

[Sam Cree]

I suppose these idiots will still welcome Palestinian musicians (if there are any).

The Left is no longer hiding its evil face, yet thousands of "liberals" are proud to be a part of it.

[rmlew]

Sure.
You can hate the nation of Israel and discriminate against the Israelis but not hate the people who define themselves as the children of Israel.

It's like saying you are anti-India and are fine with discrimination against Indians, but claim not to be anti-Hindu.

[Alouette]

Let's stick with the issue and not allow others to divert us from the real ISSUE under discussion.

And the real ISSUE would be....????

[Walkingfeather]

Gee mr. Harris I hope you don't take this the wrong way.... how do I put this.....hmmm I got it.... You are an idiot.
I hope I was clear in my description.... it seemed a bit muddled half way through the delivery, sort of like quoting an dufus like Neitzche. Take your "starring into the abyss..." pseudo-intellectual BS back to the faculty dinning room. It is of no interest here.

[Marc M. Harris]

I think the last several posts proved my point, by failing to address any of the following issues or statements:

* Israeli occupation of the West Bank & Gaza Strip

* Should the Israeli Embassy be lobbying domestic English political decisions, let alone those of private labor associations?

* Although "The Paris-based Simon Wiesenthal Center has also weighed into the debate, declaring that such a ban would violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the European Union", has anyone attempted to measure the equal application of such provision to other ethnic groups?

* The article stated that "The center's Dr. Shimon Samuels has written to BMU secretary-general John Smith, saying that 'the exclusion of musicians based upon religious, ethnic, or national grounds harks back to Nazi Germany. Thus, even considering such a motion would betray British history and the open international traditions of trade unionism.", ; however, was it not the trade unions that were used for various forms of subversion in the U.K. and elsewhere?

* It went on to say that he noted that "musical talent should know no borders nor nationality,' and he called on the union 'to reject all attempts to politicize the one gift that transcends conflict."

* The Guardian, a left-leaning London-based daily, last year described the 109-year-old musicians union as "a left-wing, doctrinaire organization as secretive and tight-lipped as the KGB."

For the record, I doubt that I will retire to the faculty dining room; however, I will return to the school of hard knocks.

Please enjoy and return to the very essence of The Free Republic or are those later day free republic posters just a bunch of "Commie Free Riders" on this public forum?

Marc M. Harris

[lavaroise]

Not ever since Nazi Gemany's ban of Jewish artists and burning of books. As if Jews or Israelies were a subhuman race incapable of artistic truth... That is Europe for you.

[Walkingfeather]

* Israeli occupation of the West Bank & Gaza Strip

Occupation??? Sorry get your brainwashed mind out of the dryer. Occupation.... is that sort of like how you are envolved in the occupation of a house that you must have stolen from the indigenous people that owned it thousands of years ago???? Occupation.... Sheesh I imagine you couldn't write that with a straight face.


* Should the Israeli Embassy be lobbying domestic English political decisions, let alone those of private labor associations?

When you look at the very recent history of how the jews have been murdered through the help of " highly educated, well meaning, ultimately sensitive Scholars (wretch)" such as yourself, I think it is a better first step then using violence. Which I believe they are also entitled to do.

* Although "The Paris-based Simon Wiesenthal Center has also weighed into the debate, declaring that such a ban would violate the anti-discrimination
provisions of the European Union", has anyone attempted to measure the equal application of such provision to other ethnic groups?

Oh yea That old bit. Everything must be equal to PC alarmists like you. Of course you never scream equity when it comes to the COLD BLOODED MURDER of isreali citizens going to the market or to school.... some how that just slips below the radar screen with elitist like you. YOU WANT EQUITY??? Maybe Isreal should start blowing up little kids in schools and on buses....



* The article stated that "The center's Dr. Shimon Samuels has written to BMU secretary-general John Smith, saying that 'the exclusion of musicians
based upon religious, ethnic, or national grounds harks back to Nazi Germany. Thus, even considering such a motion would betray British history and
the open international traditions of trade unionism.", ; however, was it not the trade unions that were used for various forms of subversion in the U.K.
and elsewhere?

Oh boy you sure nailed me with this..... Maybe someday when I learn to cut and paste red herrings like you Big daddy I could be like you. Give me a break.

* It went on to say that he noted that "musical talent should know no borders nor nationality,' and he called on the union 'to reject all attempts to
politicize the one gift that transcends conflict."

Just because you post some small quote that you point to and put a neon sign around it as if to say " see I am being sensitive to the isrealis" is disenginuous to say the least. You crave the humiliation of the isreali people and your tissue paper examples are quite obvious.

* The Guardian, a left-leaning London-based daily, last year described the 109-year-old musicians union as "a left-wing, doctrinaire organization as
secretive and tight-lipped as the KGB."

Would you like some crackers with your herring????

For the record, I doubt that I will retire to the faculty dining room; however, I will return to the school of hard knocks.

Please enjoy and return to the very essence of The Free Republic or are those later day free republic posters just a bunch of "Commie Free Riders" on
this public forum?

More elitist patronizing drivel from a "superior" mind. You see Mr. Harris people like you have lost their ability to call a spade a spade or a murderous people scum of the earth like arafat is. Why don't you come back to FR when you can play with people with some common sense.