Sheikh Jarrah, Hebron, and how apartheid works

Written on 10 May on Facebook.

The Arabs in Jerusalem are not rioting because they feel like it. They are rioting because families who were already expelled between 1947 and 1949 are being expelled again.

The Israeli law states that Jews who lost property before and during the 1947–1949 Palestine war can claim it back… but at the same time, Arabs who lost property around the same time don’t have any right to it.

Right now, Israeli messianic far-right organisations use their power within Netanyahu’s coalition to “claim” Palestinian houses based on that law, and aim to expend their Lebensraum by planting a seed (“gar’in” in Hebrew, that’s the term they use) in Arab neighbourhoods with the expressed aim of taking over those neighbourhoods and pushing the Palestinians out.

I mean, the two most prominent figures of the Religious Zionist Party, Smotrich and Ben Gvir, were both indicted of terrorism. Smotrich, on the eve of the Israeli Holocaust Day, gave a speech saying how Arabs will basically be expelled in the future, whilst Ben Gvir has a photo of Baruch Goldstein in his house (a terrorist who massacred many Muslims in the Cave of the Patriarchs during a prayer).

Look at what’s happening in Hebron… Palestinian families are literally kept in cages, whilst Jewish settlers throw rocks and empty glass bottles at them, and the IDF intentionally looks away… until a Palestinian tries to fight back, then the IDF show their whole strength (in beating up an unarmed civilian or arresting an underage boy). I recommend everyone to check the Breaking the Silence testimonies given by former IDF soldiers serving there.

This violence is a result of Netanyahu giving the religious and the messianic far-right free reign in Israel because his coalition depends on them, which doesn’t bother him in any way, as he couldn’t care less about anything but keeping in power.

This is ridiculous how much the Israeli far right have become so drunk with power that they intentionally ignite violence, just for the sake of it, and know they will get away with it and have the law enforcers on their side.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Has Nothing To Do With Rock ‘n’ Roll

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. It has been a joke for a long time, and I don’t see how anyone can takes it seriously.

From the start, I think the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should’ve been a museum, nothing else – holding rare guitars, keyboards, sheets of music, and other rarities owned by the legends of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, metal, and so on.

The idea of having a “Hall of Fame” with inductees… I’m sorry, when has music become a sport? How do you decide who gets inducted or not? The beauty of music is that, unlike sports, medals and prizes don’t matter here. Pink Floyd and The Beatles would still be considered legendary even if they had never won a Grammy… newsflash, non of the people who listen to them actually give a damn about the Grammy wins.

I’m pretty sure Queen never won a Grammy… and? Does anyone care about it except those who actually run this award, which gives them a sense of importance like they are a part of something they’re not? Will it change the fact Queen are more influential and notable than any of those who do win it these days?

Same with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The thing is… it could’ve been great, as a museum, as an experience, like the Hard Rock Cafe is absolutely awesome and has a beautiful atmosphere.

But, not only did they decide to award “medals”… apparently Jay-Z belongs in the Hall of Fame… while Iron Maiden, one of the greatest and most influential rock bands ever, don’t? Roxy Music and the Cure only got inducted in 2019, The Moody Blues only got inducted in 2018… but pop band Green Day got inducted in 2015? Rap group Public enemy got inducted in 2013?

Should I even get into the fact that the morons who run the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are so clueless about rock that British 90s bands like Oasis, Suede, Blur, and The Verve who shaped a whole generation don’t even get mentioned as potential candidates to be nominated? What music do those who run this organisation even listen to, 50 Cent and Justin Bieber?!

And while I think that the whole idea of awards in music is meaningless because it has no effect whatsoever on the legacy of a given artist, in the early days a lot of it did make sense. I love the fact that early rock ‘n’ roll pioneers like Chuck Berry and Little Richard got introduced into it straight away. It was obvious to everyone when The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, The Police, the Doors, David Bowie, Elton John, U2, Blondie, Hendrix, Joan Baez, Guns N’ Roses, and Queen god inducted… because those guys ARE what people think of when they hear about rock ‘n’ roll.

I also think the likes of Robert Johnson shouldn’t have been inducted as more than just “early influences.”

But later… it become a complete joke. I still find it shocking Sister Rosetta Tharpe and The Jam aren’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… but apparently Jay-Z is.

Kendrick Lamar introducing NWA into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame… I mean, WTF does that have to do with rock ‘n’ roll.