Israeli Settler's Miley Cyrus Parody Is Awful, World Media Rules

A Jewish settler's parody of Miley Cyrus’s “We Can’t Stop,” hit the web a couple days ago and it quickly went viral - but not out of mass popular identification with the song's ideological message. Ariel resident Orit Arfa's take on the pop music hit garnered reviews by world media berating it as the worst parody of a Cyrus song yet, if not the worst song of any kind.

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The song “Jews Can’t Stop” unveils the lesser known face of the settler movement. It features partial nudity and erotic dancing at a various sites that are symbolic of the land. The singer dances on a tractor, against a pile of stones, and around a signpost bearing the inscription, “The Jewish people have returned to their natural place. This place is the land God promised our forefathers. Welcome to Beit El.” The style may not represent the spirit of the more conservative settler population, but the message is consistent with their values: The Jewish people have a right to the land.

“Can’t you see it’s we who own the land? Can’t you see it’s we who take a stand? And we can’t stop. We can’t stop. Can’t stop building. Can’t stop building. We’re not stealing from any one,” the lyrics say.

Both the aesthetic and the content of the video were received with cynicism and disparagement. “The world absolutely did not need a pro-Israeli-settlers parody video of Miley Cyrus’ ‘We Can’t Stop,’ but we now have one, thanks to an American Jewish woman and current resident of Israel, Orit Arfa,” the magazine New York wrote. “Regardless of your opinion on Israel and Palestine, we think everyone can agree that this thing is not good for anyone,” Caroline Bankoff wrote on the magazine’s website.

“I’ve been staring at my monitor for about half-an-hour now, trying to conjure the right words to express how stupefyingly awful this video is, but the words just won’t come,” Heeb magazine commentator Yo Semite wrote. “Because peace is just so fucking passé, right?”

Arfa responded to the criticism on Keshet televison network's morning program, saying that “people don’t have a sense of humor. I don’t represent all of the Jews in the world. It’s a catchy slogan. I’m for every Jew being able to live according to his conscience. I wasn’t trying to represent anyone.”