(Click the URLS for links to articles/websites online) ARTISTS ON THE FRONTLINE

This month, Israeli singer Noa (Achinoam Nini) found herself in the headlines when JNF Canada withdrew their support from an upcoming concert featuring her, falsely alleging that she was a BDS supporter. Noa is an outspoken peace activist & critic of the current Israeli government. Delegitimisation of politically outspoken cultural figures is increasingly prevalent in Israel today, with growing attempts to silence and side-line those deemed ‘disloyal’ to Israel.

PROTEST AND BRIDGE-BUILDING RECENT CULTURAL CLAMPDOWN:

IN ISRAEL’S MUSIC SCENE: 16 JUNE 2015 Culture Ministry halts funding to Haifa theatre Sha’anan Streett of showing a play about a terrorist’s life Hadag Nahash: ‘Sticker Song’ & ‘One More 31 DECEMBER 2015 Brother’ address themes Education Ministry bans novel ‘Borderlife’, a love of social cohesion story between an Israeli & Palestinian, from schools

Source: Facebook 22 JANUARY 2016 Source: www.miraawad.co Education Ministry’s cultural blacklist of “politically Arab-Israeli singer, undesirable” is exposed Mira Awad, promotes dialogue through musical collaboration 26 JANUARY 2016 Culture Minister proposes new ‘Cultural Loyalty’ bill

to enable Ministry to control funding for the arts

27 JANUARY 2016 R/wing extremist group Im Tirtzu launches campaign Sagol 59 uses his attacking Israeli cultural heroes for being “moles” music to expose social injustice 5 FEBRUARY 2016 NIF and human rights NGOs hold major concert in Credit: masterpeace.cxp.nu Credit: Tel Aviv featuring ‘blacklisted’ stars to show support

Source: ‘Dedication’ album cover

Arab-Israeli group Dam 21 FEBRUARY 2016 write protest music: ‘If I JNF Canada withdraws sponsorship of Yom Could Go Back In Time’, Ha’atzmaut event, falsely claiming participating ‘Born Here’ singer Noa supports BDS

23 FEBRUARY 2016 Credit: Luke Brossette The Israeli Embassy of Canada steps in to sponsor the Yom Ha’atzmaut event

A-WA is “celebrates Jewish-Israeli cultural 24 FEBRUARY 2016 roots in Arabic”: The Justice Ministry approves Culture Minister’s ‘Habib Galbi’ ‘Cultural Loyalty’ bill

1995: Noa performs at a peace rally on the day PM Rabin z”l is assassinated “Art can’t change the

2009: Noa and Mira Awad represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest world, but it can

change people; it can

2010: Noa & Mira receive NIF UK’s Human Rights Award change the way that

Jan 2016: Noa cancels her membership to the Israeli Union of Performing they think and feel, Artists after they announce a Life Achievement Award for Ariel Zilber, and empower and infamous for recording ‘Kahane Was Right’ embolden them.”

Feb 2016: JNF Canada withdraws support from concert featuring Noa —Noa

Credit:Massimiliano Natale