Why isn’t Lara Fabian coming to Lebanon anymore?
Fabian performed at a concert in France in 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel’s establishment in 1948, reportedly saying at the end of a song that she loved Israel. She has also performed in Israel on a number of occasions and attended pro-Zionist meetings. [Link]
What a blasphemy! An artist saying that she loves the country she is singing in! This has never happened before. I don’t know what’s wrong with those people at the Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon (CBSI). Who gives a damn about the political allegiances of an artist? She’s here to perform on Valentine, not buy Israel some rockets!
The funny thing about this group is that it’s inconsistent in its boycotts. Let’s take a look at the artists who performed in Lebanon this summer:
– Tom Jones [Interview with Israeli TV] [Tomes Jones tour in Israel]
– Armin Van Buuren [AVB concert in Israel- 2007] [AVB Concert in Israel – 2008]
– Shakira [Shakira in Israel] [Shakira Makes a Star Turn at an Israeli Conference]
– Inna [Inna in Tel Aviv]
– Scorpions [Concert in Israel planned on May 2012]
– 30 seconds to Mars [Concert in Israel in 2010]
I don’t think I need to continue listing all the artists that came to Lebanon and had performed in Israel before or visited Israel. This non-sense must stop and whomever is behind those campaigns must be sued for being an ignorant.
so I understand from this that you dont care whether Lara Fabien (or others) supports Zionism? that you would welcome them into your home right after stepping out of Israel?
Pink,
I don’t look at what their political allegiance is in the first place. If they come here and start preaching about Zionism and defending Israel, then I do care but if they come to sing on Valentine, she’s an artist performing nothing more nothing less.
Najib, you pay them to sing here , and there is a very high risk that your money will go to support Israel , that means that your money will be used to kill Lebanese ppl
Paula,
What do you suggest we do then? Stop paying Americans and Europeans too? Cut out ties with all the countries in the world (except Iran & Syria) because they support Israel?
Do you really think stopping a Lara Fabian concert will weaken the Israeli army and cause financial problems?
Plus I have one last thing to ask you:
Whom are harming more? the Lebanese or Israelis by boycotting Lara Fabian?
Why is it “blasphemy” some people don’t want artists who profess their love to Israel, they feel by doing this they can spread awareness about the crimes Israel have committed, I don’t see whats wrong with that everyone has an opinion.
Plus 4 month ago when LMFAO cancelled “due to threats” you put a post that it was nothing but an excuse. Whys isn’t this the same case, both groups are small and both groups provided no threat.CBSI should be “sued for being an ignorant”, really why didn’t you write that for the christian group who threatened LMFAO, both reasons are silly. You claim not care about political allegiance, I think this proves otherwise.
Tarek,
Both groups are wrong and ignorant in their boycott and I stated that clearly, regardless of their political allegiance, but you cannot compare both incidents.
We are at a state of war with Israel and tensions are very high between the two countries inside and outside the country and last time I checked, we have a whole armed group dedicated to fighting Israel and Zionists in all aspects, so
any artist being intimidated by a group of Anti-Zionists in Lebanon will be very worried when coming here.
As far as LMFAO is concerned, I still think they had no reason to cancel their concerts because there is no such thing as Christian extremists in Lebanon, not that I heard of.
So if you really believe we should boycott all Israeli lovers and anything that has to do with Israel, do it properly or don’t. I remember very well those who wants to boycott McDonalds and Starbucks at some point, not knowing that they are harming Lebanese more than Israelis.
I never said we should boycott everything. I’m just saying everyone has on opinion let them do whatever they want. This group consists of less then 24 people i don’t see how really she could have been harmed. As far as a christian group there is they are responsible for such thing as banning Lady Gaga’s album in Lebanon. I don’t want to get into a political discussion its not why I read this blog. There has been so many other protests on artists who performed in Lebanon that planned to perform in Israel right after but they still came. When has their been an incident where an artist was attacked because he went to Israel. I still believe that this artist used these threats as an excuse just as LMFAO.
to be fair they did have a demonstration for Armin, was there-saw them
And all the others? They have no argument whatsoever to boycott any artist coming to Lebanon unless he/she is Israeli.
Although I understand why you’re backing Fabian, I still think that its not completely right for her to perform in Lebanon. It is one thing to be open minded, and another to welcome people who openly support Israel and talk about how much of an amazing country it is while singing in a concert in Paris. Think of it this way, how would the U.S react if an artist who consistently praises Iran and its government, wants to perform in a u.s city?
Lara Fabian shouldn’t be banned from performing in Lebanon, but you should calm down and stop criticizing the particular boycott to such an extent. Performing in Israel does not make the artist a Zionist supporter, but praising Israel and celebrating its anniversary while singing in another country most probably crosses the line. You shouldn’t just forget all the shit the Lebanese had to go through because of Israel and move on because you want to go to a Fabian concert.
haida l balad yalli baddo michel aoun wa 7oulafei2o 🙂 enjoy
ba3dein Jesus was BORN in israel, how they ban christians from lebanon too ?
Johnny.B really? Jesus was born in Israel? What are you 5?
oh moses .. enlighten me! where was Jesus born?
-_-
“What a blasphemy! An artist saying that she loves the country she is singing in!”
she was singing in france ya habibi, but praising love for Israel. if you don’t care, the 120384756664096 persons killed by Israel 3andon 7adan who care.
N.,
Again stop being a hypocrite and boycotting Fabian while allowing everyone else in. If you are sincere about this boycott, do it for everyone.
And again and for the last time, she’s an artist and she’s here to sing, not praise Zionism. When will you people understand art and culture don’t have a religion nor a political affiliation ??
Maybe the people behind wordpress (Blog software) are also Zionists? Would u stop writing here? how about Facebook? Twitter?
My question to a few who seem politically bankrupt and morally “pure”…Why is a small segment of the society imposing its views on the rest? It’s only music and has nothing to do about praising your shadow enemies. I feel it is ridiculous that these empty slogans still pollute your thinking! I have nothing against Israel. Should I be shot lol…Or should I kill my Jewish girlfriend?
Grazzie
Like many countries..Israel is a beautiful country and If I had a choice to live in either Iran or Israel, I would easily chose Israel as their open and modern culture and law is more similar to the west which more closely resembles the western parts of Lebanon..
Fady… well said … i agree with you 100%
I agree with you 100000%.
What are you doing here Fadi and Johnny.B? You, should go live in Israel, I am sure they would love to have you because I would change my Lebanese Citizenship if you do not go to your country, Israel.
eh yalla change your citizienship please.
Johnny.B. In your Zionist Dreams I might change my Citizenship but in reality I will always be a Lebanese who chooses to live in Hell and not choose to Live in Israel.
I just can not understand how a Lebanese, if that what you call yourself, chooses to live in Israel????
“120384756664096 persons killed” really? 120 trillion people?
According to al-akhbar this group also protested the coming of armin van buren’s concert during NYE-1. Yet he came. Its a stupid reason no to come, their are no threats just silly protests. I think the main reason why Lara didn’t come was because not many have heard of her here in Lebanon so the people attending her concert in Lebanon was low thus less money for her. So she just used this as an excuse.
Here’s an idea; why doesn’t the Lebanese government officially announce that Lebanon has embraced Isolationism?
Hell nobody loves us anymore anyways… with the goons in government being who they are, we’re bound to get there eventually.
FACE THE FACT; non-Arabs go to Israel and perform and go touring and everything there. Even, Roger Waters, a staunch anti-zionist, performed in Israel as well. Maybe we should stop listening to Pink Floyd!!!
Face reality please; we’re no longer in the 12th century; no one here is supporting zionism BUT if I wanna rock to some band that I like, remember music is a universal language, then I wanna see the band!
This had nothing to do with the government. A group of people voiced their opinion, and that was it. How is Lebanon no longer in the 12th century? Everybody has the right to voice their opinion, and that was exactly what this group did.
first of all ,It’s called “Palestine” not “Israel”
and Jesus was born in “Beit Lahm” in “Palestine”
so plz stop calling it israel its our palestine .
its an arabian country
it’s called israel as its said in the bible and u cant change the fact! besides if u love palestine i hate them what makes ur opinion wins over mine? palestinians killed lebanese more than the israeli did fyi. so did the syrians. i have members of my family slaughtered by the palestinians and one kidnapped and still missing in syria! to me syria and palestine are my enemies as well! and again jesus was born in israel re-read the bible.
one more thing, the pope visited israel and made a mass and prayed, is he not allowed to come to lebnon?
grow up, l 3alam saro 3al amar w ba3d bitfakkrou heik.
So you are boycotting a non-existing state?
Calling it Palestine doesn’t change the fact that the UN recognizes Israel as a sovereign nation.
am nt talking abt UN ,am talkin abt arabian ppl who call it “Israel”
eno plzz, el kl bye3ref 3n el nakbe w keef el sha3b el falastiini thajjar mn 2ardo,its true that we cant do nothin but prayin ,bs b 7alet Lara Fabian ,am totally against her concert ,she celebrated the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel’s establishment in 1948 ,and at the end she said that she luvs Israel
Israel who killed thousands of children in Gaza,West Bank,Lebanon …etc,eno ma la7a2na nensa 7arb Gaza w Qana ,w Marmara ship ,momken hl masari yali 3m yendafa3o lal concert ykoon fi joze2 mennon to support Israel eno we dunno .
ana mesh 3m 2ool kl wa7ad 3emel concert b falastin el mo7talla lazem n2at3oo ,bs ya 3alam hl celebrity a3lanat da3ma el wade7 lal zionism !!
Thank you Myriam! Exactly what I would feel like saying.
Myriam
What exactly do u know about Nakba? Should we revise history and examine what caused the Palestinians to lose their homes? Do u really wanna go there because If that’s what’s bothering u, then we should be boycotting all Arab countries without exception.
So basically you should also not support almost all Western musicians because they play there?
Plus; I’m a musician; if I play in Palestine does it mean I give Palestinians money? No, that money is for me. I went there to make money to live off of.
Same shit with Lara; you’re going to publicly accuse her of supporting Zionism financially just because she performed there?
Mariah Carey and Beyonce performed for Qaddafi; did you see them bomb Libya? No; they took the cash and spent it buying shit.
Music is universal; it does not have political allegiance.
Najib
I knw alot abt al nakba ,iam Palestinian ,and what caused palestinians to lose their homes is rly silly ,they cheated on pals by saying just a couple of weeks and u’ll be back home !! eno rly it’s so damn silly but sadly pals trusted them !!
and who said that we should boycott all Arabs ,for example :Egypt or Jordan ,we cant boycott ppl of these countries just becuz their government made peace with israel ,we also cant boycott the government ,cuz we rly need powerfull ppl to stand next to us in this case.
w ya 5ayye Ali ,who said that we should not support all western musicians because they play there ,ya 5ayye eqra2 sho ktabet b my last comment “ana mesh 3m 2ool kl wa7ad 3emel concert b falastin el mo7talla lazem n2at3oo” that what i said !!
plus am nt accusing her ,ana ma jazamet eno bada ta3te masari el concert lal israeli troops ,i said “momken hl masari yali 3m yendafa3o lal concert ykoon fi joze2 mennon to support Israel eno we dunno .” w marra tanye that what i said .
I dont care wein 7atosrof masareya nshala betzetton bl ba7ar w betzet 7ala warahon ,am just sayin that becauz “she loves the damn israel” so she might support the troops with some of her money ,eno logically if you luv some1,u’ll sure try to support by anything !!!
i knw Music has no language,religion,and doesnt have political allegiance ,but in some cases we should think twice .
Myriam,
Put aside what Jews said to Palestinians back then. Remember how the Arab armies behaved in 1948, specifically Egypt and Jordan. It’s not about making peace with Israel, they were more helpful to the Israelis than you think.
Anyway, we are getting way out of the topic. We can discuss history somewhere else if you wish.
For the time being, Lara Fabian is not a Zionist and does not attend Zionist meetings like they claimed, and them boycotting her is still stupid to me as they should boycott everyone if that’s so.
Johnny.B
we’re not in war here ,i dont care if you hate palsetine and palestinians ,+ if u knw in history some of the lebanese troops killed palestinians as well ,but this doesnt give me the right to hate all lebanese ,mesh kl el sha3b el falastiini 2atalo lebanese wala kl el lebnaneye 2atalo pals .
+ Jesus was born in Palestine,in beit lahm .
also ,the pope represent all christians around the world ,so he must go to all places that christians live in !!
and no1 can ever prevent him from coming to lebanon .
+ kaneeset el mahed yali el christians bey7ejjo feya mawjoode b beit lahm b palestine ,shoof kteb el geography !!
you are telling me to grow up ,thanx for the advice but i think i shld advise u to grow up too and forget ur hate to these ppl ,kl el blad feya zo3ran w feya gd ppl ,so 7ajna nsannef kl el 3alam 2erhabeye just becuz fi wa7ad tza3ran !!
jad el 3alam weslet 3l 2amar w 7atowsal 3l marri5 w enta 2esek 3m tetzakkar a7das mn 30 seni !!!
hypocrite …. ur telling me to forget things thst happened 30 years ago, and yet ur only judgement against israel us al nakba 1948 …. now i know ur not worth a reply.
Yeah Najib ,I sure knw how arabs helped israel back then ,and still helpin’em ….
look the same thing happend with Armin Van Buuren ,they asked to boycott his concert in Biel just becuz he performed in occupied palestine ,but he is a musician,and has the right to perform anywhere he wants ,and for me iam one of his biggest fans ,as long as he is not singin for israel or celebrating them,so why should i boycott him !!
but this thing differs with lara fabian ….
ya 3amme i have nothin against her ,but i cant luv some1 who supports my enemy !!
Johnny.B
plz 3m e7kik b kl zou2 ,at least bala hl 7aki …
what happend 30 yrs ago differs frm what happend in 1948 ,ma b2ellak eno ma kan fi 3’alat 3l falasteneye w fi kteer mennon tza3rano ,w ma b2ellak eno yaser arafat ma shawah sooret el pals b ba3d el aw2at ,howe 5arrab 3aleina b Lebanon,Jordan,kuwait,& qatar…etc
so ana ma feye 7eb heik sha5es aw e3tebro my leader !!
since 1948 la hala2 w israel 3m ta3mol majazer b Palestine , w b lebanon ….
bs yali sar mn 30 yrs sar w 5alas ,w lezem nensa ta ne2dar n3eesh b salam m3 ba3d….
kl yali 3m te7ki bey3abber 3n ra2yak wa7dak w ma bey3abber 3n kl el lebanese ,am proud of my lebanese frnds ,neighbors and family !!
Najib am sryy eza tle3et 3n el siiri ,i hope eno yeji shi nhar w kl el arabs yetef2o 3a shi 2adeye …
w nshala “Palestine will be free”
Myriam there is no such thing as “Arab people”. It just happens that because of military conquests you have a swath of countries whereas a form or a dialect version of Arabic is spoke and they share the same religion…
As for what Palestinians did to Lebanese mounts to utmost disgrace and crimes against humanity. Lebanon being a small country accepted over 400,000 Palestinians into a country that had a population of 3 million. Palestinians paid back by kidnapping, pillaging, massacring and destroying our homes and collective lives. So please spare me your sob story!
I’ve read what you’ve been commenting and I just got a couple of things to say to the people who think that boycotting an artist who shows affection for a country really is the solution:
– An artist (musician or comedian) sells his art, and so look at it this way, if you were offered a sh*t-load of money to perform in a concert which happens to commemorate the establishment of country, wouldn’t you accept? You don’t get offers every day, and so since it commemorates Israel you will do what every single musician and comedian does at the end of their show, you would say “I love you” followed by the name of the country, in the end they’re just salesmen selling their product and so they have to “sell it”! Don’t try to convince me that it defies logic and basic human behavior.
– If you want to boycott something, do it in your name and the group of people you’re with, don’t drag the whole nation in with you, this is a country where freedom of expression is very much alive, so why don’t the people who WANT to see the artist get their voices heard? I had a ticket to Gad Elmaleh and Lara Fabian, why the hell shouldn’t I have a good time? Just because some of you THINK (and so are not even 100% sure) that the money will go to Israel and Zionism?
– And above all you wonder and nag about how tourism and culture in Lebanon is decreasing, because by the time you boycotters are done we’d be wiped off the cultural map, and why people (specially the young) are leaving the country. I’ll tell you why, because they prefer to live their short and significant lives while they have the chance and seize every opportunity to get a good laugh or musical satisfaction, then to waste their time THINKING that maybe the money is going to Israel and deprive themselves from any cultural exposure. I’m Lebanese, i’ve lived in Lebanon all my life. And I don’t want to waste my time thinking that MAYBE that artist supports Zionism, and sometimes it’s because that artist is jewish . (Might I remind you that not every Zionist is a Jew and not every Jew is a Zionist).
And in my opinion boycotters should all be sued for being ignorant, stop looking at everything and thinking that it supports Israel or not, come on people live you lives, have fun and enjoy it, and when you’re 100% sure that someone supports Zionism, you can send him to the cemetery for all I care. But stop judging artists, you’re only making yourselves look bad.
Sorry for the long comment but I had to get it out of my system.
Long live Lebanon, Palestine, Gaza..
You really miss the point. The difference between all the artists you have listed is that unlike Lara Fabian they didn’t celebrate or advocate for Israel as a state, so bluntly. Our problem is that people like you have no dignity or any patriotism. You think Israel is only the Muslims or the Palestinians problem.. It is a national threat to Lebanon and the Arabs, not to mention the mozzarella terrorist covert acts around the world It is also a terrorist entity that should be stopped. But of course you need to be mature and wise enough to understand this.