To The New York Times,
Dear Editor:
The Palestinian Performing Arts Network (PAN) in the occupied
Palestinian territory of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza
Strip, are appalled by your recent article published on October 22, 2015
titled: “Palestinian Anger in Jerusalem and West Bank Gets a
Violent Soundtrack”. The article represents a deliberate attempt to highlight
so-called Palestinian violence being fueled by nationalistic songs, without
addressing the root causes for this most recent Palestinian civil uprising.
In recent weeks, the
occupying Israeli military and armed Israeli settlers have deliberately killed
and targeted innocent children and youth, burned farming lands, homes, mosques
and churches, and have instituted policies of attacking and dividing Palestinian
Holy sites. These premeditated policies of provocation, collective punishment
and deep rooted racism against the Palestinian people are the underlying causes
for this current Palestinian outcry for an end to the occupation and for
freedom.
Your article continues to
fuel the public opinion bias that Israel has used for the last 67 years of
colonialization and occupation of Palestinian lands, portraying the
Palestinians as instigators of violence instead of a people with an
internationally recognized just cause.
Palestinian culture is part
and parcel of the Palestinian national identity. Palestinian music, dance, and
theatre organizations aim to solidify Palestinian national and cultural
identity through their work with children and youth. Palestinian arts and
culture highlight the cultural and historical connections to the land and
portray the hope and longing for an end to the occupation.
The article fails to
highlight the richness of the Palestinian music, and only highlights the
current increase in nationalistic songs which would be used to fuel the
struggle with the Israeli occupation. With your article you are fueling the
conflict with a reductionist and biased image of the complex reality on the
ground.
Sincerely,
Palestinian Performing Arts Network