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Israeli Arab singer urged to step down from Eurovision, so as not to present 'false image' of coexistence By Noya Kohavi, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: IDF, Hamas, Gaza, Israel Several local artists and intellectuals are calling on the Israeli Arab singer and actress chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision song contest to step down, saying her participation in the "Israeli propaganda machine" would convey a false impression of national coexistence used to cover up the deaths of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. The duo Mira Awad, a Christian Arab, and singer Achinoam Nini, who is Jewish and also known as Noa, were chosen this week to represent Israel in the televised contest. "Israel would not be able to continue with its war crimes without the support of the international community, especially the United States and the European Union," the signatories, both Jewish and Arab, wrote in an open letter to Awad. Advertisement "What allows the international community to provide support is Israel's image as a 'democratic,' 'enlightened,' 'peace-seeking' country. Your participation in Eurovision is taking part in the activity of the Israeli propaganda machine," they added. Every contribution to the "false image" Israel is building "allows the Israeli army to use another 10 tons of explosives, another phosphorous bomb," the letter says. Actor Juliano Mer-Khamis, one of the people who initiated the open letter, said Awad's participation in Eurovision would be a "fig leaf" for Israel's actions, and spoke out against Nini's call to Palestinians in Gaza to renounce the Hamas leadership. No response was available from Awad or Nini by press time, but their manager, Ofer Pesenzon, charged the signatories - who include filmmaker Nizar Hassan and publisher Yael Lerer - with extremism. "Achinoam and Mira have been cooperating for five years," he said. "They have appeared in many respected venues around the world, and their approach has always been in favor of dialogue, out of a belief that only thus will it be possible to achieve peace between the Palestinians and Israelis and in the Middle East in general. It's very sad that Jewish and Arab extremists in our country are motivated by hatred and anger." 'Aspiration for coexistence' The Israel Broadcasting Authority said Eurovision is a cultural event "aimed at creating musical dialogue between the various countries that take part in it." "The selection of Mira Awad and Achinoam Nini is a professional decision that also expresses the aspiration for coexistence, which transcends politics," it said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Top target An IAF strike in the center of Gaza City kills Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam. Direct hit Olmert to Ban: Gunmen fired at IDF troops from UN Gaza compound.   1.   he shouldn`t these arabs and leftist are on wrong side of moralit 06:42  |  ralph 15/01/09   2.   Artists and Intellectuals? 10:03  |  fox 15/01/09   3.   Palisraeli 10:15  |  shai 15/01/09   4.   On the contrary..... 10:39  |  Hastaroth 15/01/09   5.   How much do you want to bet... 11:08  |  Elianah 15/01/09   6.   Only co-existence in the middle east 12:03  |  Ex syrian Jew 15/01/09   7.   What brute ignorance 17:14  |  x-ray 15/01/09   8.   False image 20:02  |  Ava Khan 15/01/09   9.   To Ava Khan 22:38  |  SallyZ 15/01/09

Read & React Harel & Issacharoff: Egypt's Gaza truce plan is mostly bad for Hamas Responses: 58 Olmert to Ban: Gunmen fired at IDF troops from UN Gaza compound Responses: 61 Gideon Levy: The IDF has no mercy for the children in Gaza nursery schools Responses: 89 IDF kills Hamas interior minister in Gaza airstrike Responses: 35 U.S. may cut $1billion in loan guarantees to Israel over West Bank settlements Responses: 32 More Headlines 01:37 IDF kills Hamas Interior Minister Said Sayyam in Gaza airstrike 00:45 PROFILE / Slain Hamas minister was key figure in '07 Gaza coup 00:16 Livni to set off for Washington for talks on Gaza cease-fire 23:01 UN Chief Ban: May take `few more days` to work out details of Gaza truce 23:34 Boy, 7, seriously hurt as Gaza rockets slam into Be'er Sheva 01:08 Rice cautions Israel over IDF shelling of UN warehouse 12:23 ANALYSIS / Key to Israeli exit from Gaza rests with Egypt, U.S. 22:36 Olmert and Rice put spat over UN vote on Gaza behind them 23:16 IDF battalion commander, two troops lightly wounded in Gaza fighting 23:45 Israel using Holocaust guilt to continue Gaza op, says British Jewish MP 21:46 ANALYSIS / Egypt's Gaza truce plan is mostly bad for Hamas 22:00 Israeli charged with attempting to spy on behalf of Iran 18:22 Israel Navy ships turn back boat carrying Gaza humanitarian aid 15:17 Unsung Israeli hero risks his life to save Gaza children 20:59 WATCH / Obama: We must engage Syria and Iran in Middle East peace efforts 20:01 Livni urges Red Cross to press Hamas for access to Gilad Shalit 17:33 U.S., Israel near deal aimed at halting Gaza arms smuggling 12:00 Israelis receive SMS messages apparently from Hamas warning of `surprises` in Gaza 16:08 U.S. may cut $1b in loan guarantees to Israel over West Bank settlements 14:26 Protesters against Gaza op heckle Israeli ambassador at Holocaust ceremony in Poland 17:57 Ahmadinejad calls on Obama to stop supporting Israel Previous Editions Select Day 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan

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