At the Peres Peace Center identifying Israel as the "Jewish state" is a problematic statement

Peres Peace Center rejects play for a line that says "the state of Israel is the national home of all Jews" • Peres Center explains: It is hard for us to bring Palestinian children to a play that uses the words 'Jewish state.'

Yori Yalon..
Israel Hayom..
12 August '13..

The Peres Center for Peace decided not to include the play "Snow Ball" in its program for the visit of the Barcelona soccer team in Israel, because the play includes the line that "the state of Israel is the national home of all Jews."

The affair began in April of this year, when the new play, directed by Roy Horovitz, was performed as part of the Haifa International Children's Theatre Festival. The play is based on an original Israeli script that tells the story of Felipe, a 10-year-old new immigrant to Israel from Argentina who is a huge fan of FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

After learning that FC Barcelona was coming to Israel, Sherry Aryeh, artistic director of the Israel Children and Youth Social Theater, which produced the play, approached the Peres Center for Peace with the suggestion of performing the play during Messi's visit to Israel. She suggested the theater perform a festive rendition of the play with the Argentinian star, while Jewish and Palestinian children watched it together. Initially, the Peres Center was very enthusiastic about the initiative. They sent staff members to watch the play and indicated that they were favorably impressed.

But much to the theater's surprise, the Peres Center ultimately nixed the play, via a letter written by Dvir Zivan, the manager of the Peres Center's Sports department. The email, which has been obtained by Israel Hayom, says that "we would be happy to bring all the Jewish children to the play, but there is a problem. We do not do activities intended for one nationality only. It is hard for us to bring Palestinian children to a play that uses the words 'Jewish state.' Unfortunately, we will be unable to cooperate on this venture."

Then came the surprising announcement: "There is no need to sing Israel's anthem."

It is first-class chutzpah to come to the heart of Tel Aviv and then ask us not to play our anthem. And it is even a greater audacity by the organizers and the people of the Peres Center that they lowered their heads and agreed to it.

Dr. Aaron Lerner..
IMRA..
07 August '13..






Ministry of Education: We will not pay for the visit of Barcelona because the anthem was not played

Yediot Ahronot: Education Minister Shai Piron agreed that his ministry would pay a million shekels to finance the visit of the Barcelona team in Israel, on one condition: Hatikva would be played at Bloomfield Stadium. But in order not to offend the Palestinian organizers it was decided to play only the Catalan anthem. Ministry official: "This is an outrage"

Tzvika Brut and Telem Yahav Posted YNET : 10:13 7 August 2013
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4414730,00.html
[IMRA translation]

The decision not to play the national anthem this week during the visit of the stars of the Barcelona team at Bloomfield stadium could cost the organizers dearly. The Ministry of Education announced that they do not
agree to pay their share of the event, as pledged in advance, because the organizers decided to forego the singing of Hatikva contrary to earlier agreements.

The visit of the stars of top Spanish Barcelona team in Israel and Bethlehem this week, which was attended by young people from Israel and the Palestinian Authority, was organized by the Peres Center for Peace in coordination with the office of President Peres. During preparations the Ministry of Education was asked to fund the event on the Israeli side, and indeed, received approval from the Minister Shay Piron, provided Hatikva be played before the start of the training event of the team.

The organizers agreed and David D'or already prepared to sing Hatikva and the anthem of Catalonia, but then came the surprising announcement: "There is no need to sing Israel's anthem." At the Palestinian stadium the Palestinian anthem was sung but in Bloomfield, in the presence of thousands of Israeli students, it was decided play only the Catalan anthem in the end.

Why? Depends on who you ask.

Israelis, Funding Israel’s Destruction

Moshe Dann
pajamasmedia.com
23 April '10

A motion to investigate the New Israel Fund (NIF)by Israeli MK Otniel Schneller was withdrawn because of “intense pressure.” Other MKs may try to hold hearings, but if anyone does take up the issue, it won’t be easy. Investigating the NIF will expose not only Kadima, Labor, and anti-settlement and anti-Israel organizations, but their connections to Israeli politicians — especially President Shimon Peres, his Peres Center for Peace, and its supporters.

The Peres Center has quietly backed NGOs through a network of relationships and meetings. It organized a conference of Palestinians and anti-Israel NGOs in Florence in June 2007, which included B’Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights, Israeli Committee Against House Demolition, Yesh Din, Peace Now, and others. Ron Pundak, president of the Peres Center, was the host. Former MK Avrum Burg, a founder of Peace Now who recently urged Israelis to acquire foreign citizenship, gave the keynote.

The Peres Center supports a host of NGOs, like the Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum, and other organizations that demonize and delegitimize Israel. Peace NGO organizes demonstrations against Jews living in eastern Jerusalem, like those in Sheikh Jarrah.

The NIF works with the Council for Peace and Security, a small but vocal group of anti-settlement former IDF officers and prominent Israelis, including former Justice Aharon Barak.

Of the 123 NIF grantees, half are Arab or pro-Arab organizations with political agendas.

(Read full article)

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