Please circulate widely; Let the whole world know how these Nazis carry on
Maestro Daniel Barenboim expresses deep dismay at discrimination against Palestinian musician, and will hold press conference in Berlin tomorrow in protest. For more information, please contact Maestro Daniel Barenboim. Tel: 00491-792160544.
12.16.2007 | AlKamandjati.com
Ramallah, 16-12-07: An international orchestra refused to perform in Gaza today after its sole Palestinian member, violinist Ramzi Aburedwan, was prevented from entering the Strip by the Israeli authorities and threatened with arrest, despite the fact that all 20 members of the orchestra – including Aburedwan - had secured prior coordination from the Israeli authorities via the General Consulate of France in Jerusalem to enter Gaza.
The orchestra had been due to perform as part of a Baroque Music Festival which is taking place throughout Palestine and Israel, supported by the Barenboim-Said Foundation, the General Consulate of France in Jerusalem, the A.M. Qattan Foundation, and the Goethe Institute of Ramallah.
The tour specifically scheduled a performance in the Strip to give ordinary Gazans some respite from the grinding, daily suffering they face because of Israeli measures of collective punishment and isolation, including fuel and electricity cuts and crippling border closures, which have caused massive levels of poverty and unemployment, and continued Israeli military attacks.
When the orchestra arrived at the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, all of its international members were told they could pass except Aburedwan, who was told that he had travelled to the crossing illegally despite possessing all the necessary documentation. The orchestra refused to enter Gaza without Aburedwan. After being detained at Erez for almost seven hours, Aburedwan was taken to an Israeli police station in Sderot accompanied by his fellow musicians, where he was held for a further two hours.
All members of the orchestra have now returned to Ramallah and intend to hold a concert in solidarity with Gaza from Ramallah. The concert will take place on Monday 17 December at 13:00, at the Al Kamandjâti Association in Ramallah's Old City. All members of the press and general public are invited to attend.
Maestro Daniel Barenboim, one of the backers of the Festival, expressed his deep dismay at this blatant discrimination against a Palestinian musician, which prevented the orchestra from performing this vital humanitarian act for the people of Gaza. To express his protest, Maestro Barenboim will hold a press conference in Berlin on Monday 17 December at 12:00, where he will be available to respond to comments and requests for information. All members of the international press are invited to attend.
For more information, please contact Maestro Daniel Barenboim. Tel: 00491-792160544.
For more information on Ramzi Aburedwan and the Al Kamandjati Association, please visit: www.alkamandjati.com.
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