JERUSALEM: JORDANIAN, PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI DJs MIX BEATS AT A CLUB TO PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH MUSIC

Record ID: 400765

  • Title: JERUSALEM: JORDANIAN, PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI DJs MIX BEATS AT A CLUB TO PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH MUSIC
  • Date: 6th April 2006
  • Summary: (MER-2) JERUSALEM (OCTOBER 21, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF CLUB WHERE ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN AND JORDANIAN DISC JOCKEYS (DJs) PLAYING TOGETHER 2. VARIOUS OF CLUBBERS DANCING 3. VARIOUS OF DJs PLAYING AT DJ STAND 0.34 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SRULIK EINHORN, ISRAELI DJ AND ORGANISER OF THE EVENT, SAYING: "It's a first time event that
  • Embargoed: 21st April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVAF3G1MXXA648R7P8WTEKQVVNAZ
  • Story Text: Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli DJs mix beats at
    a Jerusalem club to promote peace through music.

    An historical kick off to a new Middle Eastern club
    scene, Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli DJs recently
    joined their beats at a Jerusalem club to promote peace
    through music. Hundreds of Israeli clubbers shook their bodies to
    the sounds of Arabic and house music played by Jordan's famous
    DJ Kalice and Palestinian DJ Khalil from the West Bank city
    of Ramallah, at a party in one of the most well-known clubs
    in the region - Ha'oman 17, located in the heart of
    Jerusalem.

    The special one-time event, titled "Bridge For Peace",
    was hosted by DJ Srulik Einhorn from Israel, and combined
    the three DJs from neighbouring countries which share
    geographical borders but are detached in their cultural
    ties.

    Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian flags were draped
    above the DJs stand, where the three DJs played their discs
    one after the other, and at times shared the same stage to
    mix their talents and sounds into a cross-cultural
    experience.

    "It's a first time event that we are performing
    together - three DJs - Israeli, Palestinian from Ramallah
    and a Jordanian DJ from Amman, and it's the first time that
    this type of event is happening in the region," Einhorn,
    26, explained.

    Paper doves hanging from the ceiling and olive branches
    were among the symbolic decorations put inside the club to
    create an atmosphere of peace, in holy city for both
    Muslims, Christians and Jews, but have been a frequent
    flashpoint between the different nationals and religions.

    Khalil Kamal, who was born in East Jerusalem but now
    lives in Ramallah, has been DJing for the past 11 years,
    and for the first time in his career he performed in front
    of an Israeli crowd.

    "I would like to see different opportunities which
    can offer services provided by the Arabs and Jews. If we
    can create an understanding on the social level, we will be
    able to have a new generation which may be more
    understanding of the (political) situation," DJ Khalil told
    Reuters Television.

    Einhorn, the producer of the event, had to confront
    Israeli authorities for months ahead of the party to allow
    the visit of Amman-born Mourad Kalice to Israel. He told
    Reuters that the interior ministry did not approve DJ
    Kalice's arrival to Israel last May, but Einhorn's
    continuous efforts eventually succeeded.

    "We are all about the music, it is not anything else,"
    said Kalice, who has been DJing in many countries in the
    world, but just now had the chance to play at his
    neighbouring country across the Jordan River.

    Outside the club, a mixed crowd of Jewish and Arab
    Israelis and Palestinian clubbers came to take part in the
    rare event that gathered to dance to the same rhythms of
    peace under one roof.

    "The idea is very nice - having such an initiative by
    Arabs and Jews, especially having Palestinians and Jews
    (working together). This is the first time. It is like a
    path to peace," said Ruba Mazawi, an Arab resident of
    northern Israel.

    "I wish for peace in the world, the ending af all wars
    of course, and if it can happen through positive means,
    such as music, and of course music serves as a great
    inspiration, I wish it a great success," said Yehuda, a
    resident of Jerusalem and a frequent visitor to the club.

    The hope to extend the musical bridge for peace to the
    political arena as well was expressed by both the
    performers and the crowd, who shared the same musical
    experience and the same dreams for better relations between
    the countries in the region.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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