New song 'Ahmed Loves Israel' sparks charges of racist incitement

A new song by Israeli singer Amir Benayoun sparked a heated controversy on Monday, when its lyrics were widely criticized as racist incitement.

The song, titled "Ahmed Loves Israel," appears to describe an Arab student's plan to carry out a terrorist attack. It prompted Meretz MK Issawi Frej to urge the police to launch an incitement investigation against the singer.

Frej citing verses from the song, including "Tomorrow I will fly to heaven, and send a Jew or two to hell," and "One day, the moment will come, you'll turn your back and I'll stab you with a sharpened ax." He said the song constituted "ugly incitement against the Arab population in Israel."

In a letter to Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino, Frej wrote, "As an Arab-Israeli citizen, this song refers to me and to Arab society as a whole as murderers. These lyrics are outrageous incitement."

Army Radio on Monday interviewed Professor Mordechai Kremnitzer of the Israel Democracy Institute, who said, "If it can be proved that Benayoun overtly meant to incite animosity and violence against a certain population, he could be charged with inciting racism."

The singer, who is known for never hesitating to express his controversial opinions, commented on the air, and blasted Kremnitzer: "According to your logic, you yourself are a murderer, because what you just said constitutes incitement against me. Your words have consequences, and I for one don't buy your bullshit."

When anchorwoman Yael Dan attempted to steer the conversation back to the issue at hand, Benayoun rebuked, "Do you want to keep interviewing Rantisi [Hamas co-founder Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi], or do you to keep up the bullshit? With all due respect to you and this great legal expert, you're murderers as well. People are going to commit murder because of your mouths."

At this point, Dan told Benayoun she was ending the interview, and listeners could hear the singer hang up.

Benayoun later wrote on his Facebook page that "the song 'Ahmed Loves Israel' means to express general sentiments and it does not encourage violence against anyone. We categorically oppose violence. If we were violent we would not be singing songs that emanate from the heart.

"To all those who were appalled, I suggest you express your shock over the terrorism running rampant in this country first. Be appalled by murdered Jews and bloodstained tallitot, by people who are being run over by animals, by terrorists who fire [rockets] at the residents of the south from schools and hospitals. There are plenty of more shocking things to be appalled about, than a song that simply expressed pain and fear."

Later still, Benayoun posted another song on his Facebook page, titled "Enemy of the State." He said the song was written following the criticism leveled at him, adding, "If a murderer has become the victim and I have become a despicable murderer, then I have little left to say. I live in a scary, insane world."

Following the release of the controversial song, the President's Residence on Tuesday decided to cancel Benayoun's performance at a ceremony marking the expulsion of Jews from Arab countries and Iran, scheduled for Nov. 30.

Harel Tubi, director-general of the President's Residence, said in a statement quoted by the Walla news website, "Following the release of Amir Benayoun's latest song, we will not be able to host his performance at the President's Residence. Amir Benayoun is a well-respected artist, who has made a unique contribution to Israeli music. Nevertheless, his statements at this volatile time -- even if they were meant to express his own pain -- have done little, to put it mildly, to calm the situation, and they cannot be reconciled with the President's Residence's, and all other influential institutions', obligation to alleviate tensions and promote partnership between the various sectors of Israeli society."

Senior Citizens Affairs Minister Uri Orbach (Habayit Hayehudi) protested the decision, saying that if Benayoun's performance was canceled, he would cancel his speech at the ceremony.

The Senior Citizens Affairs Ministry was the driving force behind holding the ceremony at the President's Residence, and had arranged Benayoun's performance.

A statement issued by Orbach and quoted by Army Radio said, "I respect and love President [Reuven] Rivlin (and I don't like Amir Benayoun's song) but I cannot be a party to such a blatant infringement on the freedom of expression and creation.

"Boycotting artists over their opinions is wrong and therefore I will be unable to attend the ceremony. If Benayoun can't sing, I won't speak," Orbach said.

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