Monday, May 12, 2014

Egyptian Pop Star Chaaboula to Sing ‘I Hate Israel’ at Morocco World Music Festival Featuring Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake


Egyptian singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim, known as Chaaboula. Photo: Mawazine Festival.
Egyptian singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim, known as Chaaboula. Photo: Mawazine Festival.
Egyptian singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim, known as Chaaboula, plans to sing I Hate Israel, the infamous song that ended his contract for McDonald’s in 2008, at Morocco’s Mawazine world music festival, which is also featuring international stars Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Ricky Martin and Kool and the Gang.
Egypt’s Youm7 news site reported on Saturday that Rahim said he will open his concert with I Hate Israel.
Arabic entertainment news site FilFan cited Rahim as saying that he’ll be wearing a costume with the colors of the Egyptian flag and will also sing his ode to former Egyptian defense minister and now presidential candidate Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, We Love Sisi.
Rahim was cited by FilFan as saying it’s “an honor for me to be the only Egyptian singer in the festival this year, it is the first time that I have taken part in such a big event.”

The festival, which is expected to draw 2.5 million attendees over nine days and a hundred concerts in Rabat and suburb Salé, is considered to be one of the largest music festivals in the world.
According to the festival organizers, Rahim worked in a laundry mat where he sang to friends until the 1980s, when the owner of a record store offered to produce his first album. After decades of Egyptian pop, Rahim turned to political themes.
In 2008, Rahim lost a contract to be featured in a McDonald’s commercial for the McFalafel after Jewish human rights groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, alerted the company to his song, which they accused of inciting hate against Israel and Jews.
Rahim had another hit song, Hey Arab Leaders, in which he accused the U.S. and Israel of masterminding the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
The ADL has published the lyrics of his songs (see below)  and Palestinian Media Watch flagged his music video as examples of anti-Semitism and hate speech in popular Egyptian culture.
On Sunday, Rabbi Abraham Cooper of The Simon Wiesenthal Center, told The Algemeiner that he hoped the other international musicians at the festival used their stage time to promote peace, rather than hatred.
“Remember that Alicia Keys delivered a message of peace last summer in Tel Aviv, despite the BDSers hypocritical hysteria,” Rabbi Cooper said referring  to anti-Israel ‘boycott, divestment and sanctions’ activists who tried to pressure Keys to cancel her performance. “I hope she and the other western talent urge the organizers to make the festival a hate-free zone and  that they counter the anti-Israel hate with their music.”
As for Chaaboula, Cooper said he “may want to update his tired lyrics.”
“He writes one of the reasons he hates Israel is because of the Golan,” Cooper said. “Has he checked with the steady stream of severely injured Syrians coming to the Golan to Israel’s ‘no questions asked’ hospital who hate Assad not the Israeli medics saving their lives?”
“Hate in his neighborhood is in all too abundant supply. How about trying the old Beatles ‘All you need is love’ for a change?” Cooper asked.
Read Chaaboula’s hate-filled lyrics below, as posted by the ADL:
I Hate Israel
I hate Israel, and I would say so if I was asked to,
Even if I’ll be killed, or go into jail as a prisoner.
I love Husni Mubarak, because he is so smart (literally: because his mind is big),
When he takes any steps, he considers it with conscience.
I hate Israel, and I hate the ruins.
(Israel) loves the ruins and hates the building.
I love Yasser Arafat – he is my favorite man.
The Egyptian nation is sad and the shame covers me.
I love Yasser Arafat, and I hate Israel,
Shimon (Peres) and Sharon.
I love ‘Amer Musa, for his balanced sayings.
What is the kids’ sin – those who die every day?
People are taking up arms, people are holding clubs.
I hate Israel – all of us are angry – al-Quds is on our mind. When ad-Durra (Muhammad ad-Durra – the child that was killed in Gaza – CD) died, the President was sad,
He said in the papers: “Who is satisfied with the humiliation?”
I hate Israel, and I hate Ehud Barak
Since he is repugnant, and all of the people hate you.
All of the time Egypt forgets, and has a lot of patience,
But when Egypt is angry, it returns back the Ambassador.
I hate Israel – ask the Shahid’s blood.
Ask those who crossed (Suez canal) in the glorious October.
I hate Israel, because of South Lebanon,
al-Quds and Iraq,
Syria and the Golan.
‘Hey Arab Leaders’
“…Two faces of the same coin, America and Israel.
They made the world a jungle and ignited the fuse.
America spread its wings, doesn’t care about anyone.
No one can stop her, no one can catch her.
Soon he (Bush) will say Iran, then he will say Syria,
But he is silent about [North] Korea.
About that [Twin] Tower, oh people
Definitely! His friends [Israel] were the ones who brought it down.
What terrorism!! [Visual shows Sharon pushing the button]
How many years are left.
For America and Israel acting as bullies. . .

No comments: