Arab and Jewish Musicians Planning Concert for Peace

A large group of Arab and Jewish artists are planning to hold a concert in support of continuing the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

The event is being produced by Hemi Sal, who has produced memorial rallies for slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The organizers say they want to convey a message of hope through music and show the world that the Israeli public is ready to take to the streets in order to advance peace.

Dozens of Israeli artists have been approached by the organizers, including singers Shlomo Artzi, Shalom Hanoch, Asaf Avidan and Berry Sakharof and the Hadag Nahash band. Singer Muki and the bands Ethnix and Orphaned Land have already confirmed their participation.

"The band and I support peace and love between people, regardless of religion, gender or race," said Ethnix lead vocalist Ze'ev Nechama. "Over the years we have had many musical collaborations with Arab and Palestinian artists out of complete faith that music and art in general are a real bridge to peace. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb – is there anything more wonderful than that? Wherever people talk about peace or make peace – we shall stand there to sing hallelujah."

Muki added that "the world we leave for the next generations has to be better, cleaner and more just. We must do everything we can for peace."

"It's a spontaneous initiative which began several days ago, when we realized that peace was crashing before our eyes," Sal explained. "In the coming days we will receive the final answers from all the artists we approached. The artists in Israel want peace and know that something has to be done. This isn't a protest event but an event of hope."

The producer aims to have Jewish and Arab artists perform together as part of a concert which will begin in the afternoon hours and continue into the night. He says the production is in advanced stages and the concert will likely be held after the Passover holiday.

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The event is likely to take place in Haifa, in cooperation with the local municipality and Arab-Jewish center Beit Hagefen.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav welcomed the initiative, saying that "it's only natural that such a concert will be held in a place where people have been living in coexistence for more than 100 years."