Monday, August 12, 2013
Elder of Ziyon
Sounds like Khalas is an Arab Christian band. I don't think any Muslim group will sing about drinking beer!Two Israeli bands, one Jewish and one Arab, are joining together in "metal brotherhood" to spread a message of peace through rock 'n roll.
Khalas performing in Tel Aviv
Arab group Khalas (Arabic for "Enough") and Jewish band Orphaned Land are heading out on an 18-day European tour that they hope will foster tolerance between the two sides in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
"We want to share the stage together, we want to show co-existence," said Kobi Farhi, Orphaned Land's vocalist.
The bands will also share a tour bus for three weeks. What more perfect example of co-existence, asks Farhi.
"We will snore at each other, we will do laundry together, we will make coffee for each other," he said.
Among those on the tour bus will be Abed Hathout, Khalas' guitarist and band manager. "If we can do this co-existence on a bus, why can't we do it all over this country," he said.
...Farhi recounts a[n] incident when Orphaned Land played with a Tunisian band on their last tour. The Tunisian band's manager received emails asking them to boycott the tour.
"If you want to interpret (touring with an Israeli band) as legitimizing, that's your interpretation ... we simply have a message that we love each other and we want to live together."
Orphaned Land's lyrics are often political, observing the Middle East's governments and religion. Khalas' latest album features metal covers of '80s Arab wedding songs.
"Khalas doesn't deal with politics ... it's not because we are not connected to our people or we don't care, but there are so many people talking about the occupation.
"I have the right to write about having fun and love and drinking beer."
Here's Khalas in concert with some heavy metal belly dancing:
