Fed up with hypocrites

The exhibit features 15 models of Israeli commemoration sites ranging from monuments to museums. The structures, according to the curator, provide legitimacy to Israeli society's need to justify the difficulties of its current existence and the future price to be exacted.

Amir's words have stirred up moralists and the reaction quickly came in the form of a petition undersigned by the Organization for Justice in Palestine Architects and Planners.

The international Britain-based organization demanded that Biennale officials annul Israel's participation in the event on the pretext that this was art used for propaganda purposes, ignoring the fact the Palestinian public is the main victim of the conflict.

"The whole contribution, funded by the Israeli Government, totally excludes the Palestinians who are the target and real victims of the seemingly unending series of wars being memorialized, and awards Israel the sole position of victim and victor," the petition reads. The organization also argued that Israeli architects are in fact partners to an agenda that rejects discussion of the Palestinian narrative.

The petition, just like the demand to boycott Israel at one of the world's most important art events, isn't surprising. It joins a long series of initiatives that in recent months called either directly or indirectly for a cultural and academic boycott on Israel.

The voices calling for isolating Israel and turning it into a persona non grate at various platforms of exposure are turning into a tightening noose around the neck of Israeli creation.

We saw this when the Israeli program was pushed to the margins in the intentional film festival in Lussas, France and with the declaration by the Greek film center that it will not allow Greek creators and movies to participate in Israeli festivals. We also saw the participation of Israeli creators being called off in art events such as the Edinburgh and Locarno film festivals, the homo-lesbian festival in Ireland, and dance festivals in South Africa and Japan.

All of the above join direct calls by Palestinian and international creators, including Director Ken Loach, to refuse any cooperation with Israelis.

Do boycotts prevent dialogue?

A cultural boycott is a matter that deserves a wide-ranging public debate that has not yet taken place. Its defenders argue that cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian creators maintains the status quo of Israeli occupation and constitutes a sort of silent agreement with its continuation.

The objectors argue that culture and art are a means for bridging the gap between the two disputing peoples and that a boycott will curb any possibility of an emotional and humane dialogue between the sides.

The implication of a cultural boycott is a deletion of the "other" from our lives and a complete annulment of its existence from the physical spaces and realms of thought we move through and operate in. To a large extent, a cultural boycott is identical to the construction of the separation wall, which all those signing the petitions and initiatives staunchly oppose.

Of all the initiatives that are piling up, the most infuriating one is the last, which appears to have been born through a complete lack of understanding and a twisted reading of the complex reality between Israel and the Palestinians. In a letter to Venice Biennale officials, those who signed the petition claim that an exhibit that addresses commemoration in the context of war must give expression to both sides.

Had the undersigned read the writings of Mohammed Darwish or listened to voices on the Palestinian street, such as that of filmmaker George Khleifi, it is doubtful whether their demand would have been drafted to begin with.

There's something hypocritical and patronizing in the demand for Palestinian representation in the Israeli creation. Telling the Palestinian story isn't the job of Israeli creators.

This narrative has to be told by Palestinian creation. Any Israeli or Palestinian creation does not require balance. As opposed to a news story, the creation presents the position, worldview, and feelings of the creator and passes through his or her personal "filters."

On Palestinian film day held last year at the international film festival in Haifa, Palestinian filmmaker George Khleifi said: "We should be telling our story. If we don't do it, somebody else will do it as was done throughout history. We, the creators, must forget about what we're expected to do and deal with ourselves." Too bad the world doesn't listen.