53 theater figures vow not to perform in settlements

[Violet_Crumble]

Fifty-three Israeli theater professionals, including performers, playwrights and directors, have signed a petition stating they would not appear in the West Bank settlement Ariel.

The issue surfaced following a report last week in Haaretz that several of Israel's leading theater companies, including the Habima National Theater, the Cameri Theater, the Be'er Sheva Theater and Jerusalem's Khan Theater, were planning to perform at the new cultural center in Ariel.

Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat said Saturday that the actors' protest was a serious matter, and was causing a rift in Israeli society. She called upon the theater managements to address the problem immediately.

"Culture is a bridge in society, and political disputes should be left outside cultural life and art," she said. "I call for the scheduled performances to be carried out as scheduled in Ariel and all over the country, as each citizen has the right to consume culture anywhere he chooses."

In the petition, the performers said they would not perform in Ariel or any other West Bank settlement and called on Israeli theater managers to limit their activity to within the Green Line.

Signatories include prominent members of the Israeli theater community, including Yehoshua Sobol, Yossi Pollak, Yousef Sweid, Anat Gov and Savyon Liebrecht.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/53-theater-figures-vow-not-to-perform-in-settlements-1.310749

[Ken Burch]

1. I salute the artists who have made this stand

Every artist who DOES perform at this event on these stolen lands is endorsing the Occupation and forfeiting his or her own integrity.

And the minister is wrong: ALL art is political, and all artists MUST be anti-oppression to remain morally qualified to be considered artists.

[nosmokes]

2. "political disputes should be left outside cultural life and art" WTF?!?

Keep politics outta art,chocolate chips outta cookies and sex outta making babies. Lemme know how that works out for ya.

[Crunchy Frog]

3. It's reassuring to see these positive forces in Israeli society.

I hope they can make a real difference.