Stefany Anne Golberg in collaboration with Flux Factory, Inc. presents:

JEWISH MUSICIANS AGAINST ISRAELI OCCUPATION

June 8th, 2002, 9pm
Galapagos Art Space
70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY
$5.00 admission

BANDS: Jewlia Eisenberg's Charming Hostess, The Galerkin Method, Krakatoa, TBA

INFORMATION: There will also be a number of groups tabling in order to provide further information about this issue.

1. THE SITUATION AT HAND

This evening is a response to what I see as a lack of willingness on the part of American Jews-particularly American Jewish artists- to come out publicly against Israeli Occupation and the military berating of the Palestinian people. Because of their continued financial support, strong political voice, and obvious symbolism, American Jews hold a significant responsibility for the freedom of the Palestinian people and should therefore be the amongst the most vociferous supporters of their cause.

2. THE ROLE OF ARTISTS

Because of and not in spite of their position as public figures, artists have a duty to represent and argue for political positions that may be unpopular, particularly in the face of opposition from those who claim to be supporters of their work. There are a growing number of Jewish political organizations (both American and Israeli) who are willing to say, "I am a Jew and I think the Israeli position is wrong," but too few Jewish artists.

3. JEWISH MUSICIANS AGAINST ISRAELI OCCUPATION

I intend to put on a show that is more music than talk, more art than politics, as I feel simply having such an event and publicizing it widely is itself the more powerful political statement. The participants will not be expected to produce manifestos nor treatises (though they are certainly welcome to). I will be reading a brief statement at the top of the evening saying basically thus.

Contact information:
Stefany Anne Golberg
fluxfactory@aol.com
www.fluxfactory.org

A Too-Brief Statement Regarding the Role of the American Jew

(Dispelling The Myth That "It's complicated" and "We were there first" and Despite The Fact That This Evening Is Called Jewish Musicians Against Israeli Occupation)

This is not a religious issue. What may have happened 2,000 or 3,000 or any thousand years ago is not merely a matter of controversy; it simply doesn't matter. What happened 2,000 or 3,000 or any thousand years ago cannot and should not be a factor in modern political decisions. I quite strongly believe that most American Jews would disagree that the notion of divine right was ever a justification for, say, the genocide of Native Americans. Or that the US government crossing the Canadian border tomorrow and destroying Canadian homes to put up American ones wouldn't be thought of as problematic by most American Jews (not to mention Canadian homeowners). So why is divine right and why was it ever a justification for the destruction of the Palestinian people? To put forth this issue as one of religion is absurd. To say that it is an issue of identity politics is equally absurd. The issue is economic, and really much simpler than most would care to portray. It is an issue of land acquisition and cheap labour. It is an issue of what Israelis want and that Israelis want. And also what is in the interest of the United States and in the interests of Jewish people in general.

This is also not a question of Israel's existence. No one is pushing Israel into any body of water it doesn't want to go in. Israel does exist-the question of Israel existing is moot. The debate should be what Israel is, border definition and all, and how it should, as a powerful and financially comfortable nation, conduct itself.

Israel does not exist strictly because American Jews support it, but anyone who claims that, should American Jews renege their support for Israel's colonial policies tomorrow there wouldn't be significant change in America's Israel policy (and therefore Israel's ability to be a military bully) is an idiot. This evening is a response to what I see as a lack of willingness on the part of American Jews-particularly American Jewish artists- to come out publicly against Israeli Occupation and the military berating of the Palestinian people. Because of their continued financial support, strong political voice, and obvious symbolism, American Jews hold a significant responsibility for the freedom of the Palestinian people and should therefore be the amongst the most vociferous supporters of their cause.

Because of and not in spite of their position as public figures, artists have a duty to represent and argue for political positions that may be unpopular, particularly in the face of opposition from those who claim to be supporters of their work. There are a growing number of Jewish political organizations (both American and Israeli) that are willing to say, "I am a Jew and I think the Israeli position is wrong," but too few Jewish artists.

It's pretty clear that Occupation has encouraged the killing, maiming, impoverishment and degradation of the Palestinian people. And it is also clear that continued incursions into and settlement of Palestinian territory only puts the people of Israel in further danger. Therefore, every American Jew has the duty to steer his or her way through the fog of misinformation and advocate for the end of Israeli Occupation and forced dominance over the Palestinian people, if for no other reason than the safety of Israel, if that is their primary interest.