Paul McCartney should not have gone to Israel...really?

Paul McCartney has been criticised for giving his “Friendship First” concert in Tel Aviv, his first ever visit there after The Beatles were banned 43 years ago. I totally disagree with the critics.

On the day Sir Paul – TFFs Honorary Friend – gave the concert in Tel Aviv, I sent out a small note about it on TFF’s PeaceTips service. We received a few letters back, and the main points of the criticism were that by going there, he:

- supported Israel and what is called its apartheid politics
- let down the Palestinian side by not playing in Palestine
- revealed his message of peace, through his music, to be hollow/cynical

I totally disagree with this nitpicking and think it is indicative of sectarian self-pity, a rather limited understanding of both peace work and culture and the relations between the two. And guilt by ascribed association ought to be a no-no in circles that want to improve the world.

Here is why.

1) Artistic creation is about that exactly, coming from the inside of the artist. The moment somebody does art with a deliberate view to promote a particular non-art cause, the risk is high that it becomes lousy art; just think of the bombastic political art produced in the Soviet Union or the ridiculously bad portraits all over Iraq in the days of Saddam.

Art of course can become political, become interpreted as such by the viewers or listeners. But then it is usually more subtle, sophisticated in its being art. That applies to both, say, American Pop Art, French avant-garde film at the time or rock and rap music. Obviously, the Beatles changed the world but they never would had it not been an inner drive to create the music in the first place. That of course can be politically inspired but not if it calculates a political effect a priori.

2) Artists have the same human rights as others, including to speak, sing, paint and enjoy freedom of movement. They even have the right to go somewhere also to find out what the situation is like with their own eyes and ears.

3) Paul McCartney was not half as insensitive and politically deaf as his critics would have it. He did go to the West Bank, visited the Church of Nativity and Edward Said’s Music School. As The Independent pointed out, he was actually very careful about the “politics” of his trip while also emphasizing that he is a singer and a “humanitarian” and not a politician – happy as we should all be, given the incredible contribution he and The Beatles have made to world music culture.

4) What nonsense to say that if you go somewhere, you are automatically supporting the government/regime and its politics. I myself have ploughed through countries whose government I detested at the time – the Breznev’s Soviet Union, Tudjman’s Croatia, Milosevic’ Serbia, Saddam’s Iraq – to mention some, and I have been to Israel. Isn’t it bizarre to maintain such a thing – by people who either go to or work in the US these days or have just returned from the Olympics in China? What about all the towering figures in politics and intellectual life who have chosen to move to the United States – Edward Said at the time?

5) The argument that there should be a cultural boycott of Israel is plain misguided, ill-considered, too – while I would support an economic boycott for sure. Culture and cultural exchanges have a sui generis potential for peace, mutual respect and human understanding that we can simply not afford to throw away.

6) It’s worth pointing out that about 15% of Israel’s 7,3 million inhabitants are Palestinians, and almost are 20% Arabs. I assume quite a few may have been moved by Sir Paul’s performance and his PR for a peace organization that works for both sides.

7) Finally, who believes that anyone could listen there and then to his and the Beatles’ songs – world treasures like John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance – and not relate it to the Palestine-Israeli conflict?

I think he did the right thing and did it the right way. If anyone needs to hear the message of peace it is the Israeli government. I hope its windows were wide open and Paul’s loudspeakers on maximum volume that memorable night in Tel Aviv.

If you go to “say the word…peace,” (as Paul expressed it in his little poem to TFF years ago) and see for yourself, there is a chance you make a little contribution. Criticising those who do, tells me that peace and human rights people sometimes need to attend a professional seminar and get out of the sectarian “our-peace-is-the-only-right-peace” mindset. We got one letter from an activist who said that McCartney could not do anything for peace because he lives in luxury…!

Unity in diversity in peace work, please! And my admiration for an artist who could choose to live on his billions but steadily cares about the world and its sufferings.

More here:
Paul McCartneys website
CNN's video and text


[JO # 1227]