Protest the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s Performance at Carnegie Hall, 2012

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Video, Protest the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s Performance at Carnegie Hall , 2012

Adalah NY Protests the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 10/25/12

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Similar actions took place throughout the IPO's U.S. tour. In Las Vegas on October 29 and in Los Angeles on October 30, activists made it clear to Zubin Mehta and his orchestra that until they distance themselves from the Brand Israel campaign and take a stand against the Israeli oppression of Palestinian people, they will not be welcome in our communities.

Below is info about these other actions.

Pictures from Las Vegas:

Press Coverage

Sequenza21

IPO and Yuja Wang at Carnegie Hall

Abstract: 

On October 25th, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra gave a sold out concert at Carnegie  Hall, performing under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta, a program of  some of Judaism’s most spiritual works, demonstrating their undyingly  righteous, cultural eminence.

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Press Coverage

Tablet Magazine

Zubin Mehta Speaks Out

Abstract: 

The conductor was clearly displeased, and not only by his shabby temporary headquarters. He was unhappy about, but not surprised by news that Adalah-NY was staging yet another protest of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert on Thursday night.

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Press Coverage

Los Angeles Times

Protest planned for Israel Philharmonic concert at Disney Hall

Abstract: 

Wherever the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra goes, protests seem to follow. Concert-goers planning to attend Tuesday's performance by the orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall can expect to see a colorful outdoor demonstration of activists who say they oppose Israel's policies toward Palestinians.

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Press Coverage

Annenberg Radio News

Local activists protest Israel Philharmonic orchestra at Disney Hall

Abstract: 

One performance will be inside, by the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), and the other will take place outside the entrances to Disney Hall.

The IPO performs internationally as a cultural ambassador for Israel.  Local protesters want to use the orchestra’s visit to Los Angeles to bring attention to what they call Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

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Press Coverage

Jerusalem Post

Construction, destruction and peace protesters

Abstract: 

When I received a press release from Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel gleefully informing me that “New Yorkers will protest at Carnegie Hall with music, songs, chants and street theater against the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and its complicity in Israel’s apartheid policies against the Palestinian people,” I actually laughed. After a day glued to news reports of missiles and mortars being lobbed at my friends’ homes and worrying about the soldiers – children of friends – serving in the area, it wasn’t hard to think of the planned protest as a bad joke.

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Press Coverage

The Jewish Voice

Israeli Orchestra Met With Protests in NYC

Abstract: 

A performance last month by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was met with protests from Adalah-NY, who urged Carnegie Hall to cancel the orchestra’s appearance in response to the Palestinians’ call for a cultural boycott of the Israeli “apartheid state” that – in their perspective – is occupying Arab land, building settlements, and repressing Palestinians. Zubin Mehta, the Philharmonic’s musical director, summed up the boycott by saying, “As long as they keep building settlements the world will be anti-Israeli.”

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Event Web Action: 

Web Action

Open Letter from Artists to Carnegie Hall: Cancel the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's Performance

Letter:

We are conscientious artists who support justice, human rights, equality, and democracy in the Middle East and around the world. Consequently, we are dismayed by Carnegie Hall’s upcoming October 2012 hosting of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The IPO is an organization that whitewashes Israel’s ethnic cleansing of indigenous Palestinians. We call on Carnegie Hall to cancel the IPO’s upcoming October performance for reasons set forth in greater detail below.

How the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Whitewashes Israel’s Oppression of Palestinians

The IPO is not an apolitical cultural institution; it is actively complicit in whitewashing Israeli human rights abuses, apartheid, and occupation of Palestinian land.

In 2006, the Israeli government launched a public relations initiative called “Brand Israel,” which seeks to use art and music to distract from Israel’s human rights violations. According to Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by sending Israeli artists and musicians abroad, “you show Israel’s prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war.” The IPO website aptly notes that the Orchestra serves as “Israel’s musical ambassador throughout the country and the world.” American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra calls the IPO “Israel’s finest cultural emissary” and notes that “[t]he goodwill created by these tours … is of enormous value to the State of Israel.” This cynical use of art and music serves to obscure Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, home demolitions in Jerusalem, kidnappings, bombings, multiple forms of collective punishment, and countless other grave abuses.

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DON’T HARMONIZE WITH APARTHEID

Join us to protest the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance at Carnegie Hall.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) brags of its partnership with the Israeli army. It is held up as Israel’s premier cultural ambassador. The IPO is an important component of the “Brand Israel” campaign, which seeks to distract from Israel’s illegal occupation and the suppression of Palestinian rights.

Responding to the call from Palestinian civil society to isolate Israel’s apartheid regime, we will protest against the Israel Philharmonic during its 2012 tour.

NO whitewashing,
NO impunity, and
NO business as usual for the apartheid state!

There will be theater, visuals, music, fun and passion for justice!
(Signs will be provided)

Sponsored by: Adalah-NY: The NY Campaign for the Boycott of Israel

Endorsed by: Brooklyn For Peace; International Socialist Organization; Jews Say No!; New Yorkers Against the Cornell-Technion Project; Queers Against Israeli Apartheid; Students for Justice in Palestine at Columbia, Brooklyn College, Hunter, and John Jay; WESPAC Foundation; Women in Black, Union Square

Event Location: 

Carnegie Hall
57th Street & Seventh Avenue
New York , NY

Event Date: 

Thursday, October 25, 2012 - 6:00pm to 7:15pm

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Content Type: 

Public Event

Shortlink: 

https://j.mp/3vBYfxq