This is the music which is popular in Israel, being popularized here in Canada by Israeli culture. They call Palestinians Amalekites because of God's instruction to Saul to "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." (1 Samuel 15:3)
They think they can get away with this by singing in Hebrew, as those of us who don't understand Hebrew "would never understand their hate, anyways". No we don't, and we don't accept it. However many in the audience do, including those from the Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and Edmonton Jews Against Zionism, who were the ones who had petitioned the Heritage Festival organizers to exclude the Israel pavillion.
This is the very reason they were being protested, and they chose to double-down on it.
Zionism goes against Judaism, and the removal of a nation that is involved in the ETHNIC CLEANSING of another people while spreading anti-Arab hate speech from a MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL is the only correct action. Instead, the Edmonton Police Service were "working in collaboration" with the Israel pavillion and the Heritage Festival, and "security" was present at the Israel pavillion wearing the face coverings and baseball caps popularized by White Supremacist groups such as Patriot Front, Proud Boys, and Sons of Odin, as well as Trump's ICE which employs the same.
So who are the anti-semites, the ones against genocide, or the white nationalists supporting the message of hate to the Conscientious Jews?
I cannot feel safe wearing a keffiyeh on my own block, for fear of attack with deadly force, and ostracization from my neighbours. Oh, but I will wear it anyways, and that's how I know of the very real consequences and violence of having pro-Israel neighbours.
At the multi-cultural Heritage Festival, I felt safe to wear any kind of Arab-inspired cultural garments, and MANY at the festival did the same. They can't attack all of us, because they thrive in isolation where they can threaten, harass, insult, and intimidate with impunity. Heritage Festival was our safe space, where we could not face violence simply for being Arab or being supportive of the plight of Arabs.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1986sHd1RG/
Trigger Warning, though those who are most affected by it have already heard it a million times. These are the English translated lyrics:
[Intro: Stilla & Ness]
(One, two, shoot)
(Two, shoot)
(One, two)
Yeah (Attention)
Listen, Stilla, I'm not joking with you (Attention)
Yeah, yeah, ayy (Attention), yeah
[Verse 1: Stilla]
A bunch of mice fuckers coming out of the tunnels
Trying to discourage, fools, mark my words there will be no forgiveness
Yeah, who do you think you are, coming and shouting, "Free Palestine"?
Tfii, you children's of Amalek
Hooop, damage them
Left, right, left, impressive how the whole country put on unforms from the Galilee to Eilat
Combatants and female combatants, Duvdevan and Magav, Caracal, Bardelas
We brought the whole army on you and I swear there will be no forgiveness
Tffi, you children's of Amalek
[Pre-Chorus: Stilla]
All the units are ready? (Attention)
[Chorus: Stilla]
Golani (One, two, shoot)
Nahalawhim (One, two, shoot)
Shiryon (One, two, shoot)
Where's Givati? (One, two, shoot)
Navy Forces, Air Forces (Attention)
Totahnim, Tzanhanim (Attention)
All the units in the IDF ready for a complete mess, on your head
Golani (One, two, shoot)
Nahalawhim (One, two, shoot)
Shiryon (One, two, shoot)
Where's Givati? (One, two, shoot)
All the females combatants that impassioned (Attention)
Ha'andasa, Esof and Kfir (Attention)
All the units in the IDF ready for a complete mess, on your head, wow