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Singer behind anti-Israel Eurovision Madonna parody shared antisemitic video about 'Zionist Jews'
Shahd Abusalama tweeted about 'Zionist Jews' and shared a video full of anti-Jewish myths
May 15, 2019 08:03
Shahd Abusalama tweeted about 'Zionist Jews' and shared a video full of anti-Jewish myths
May 15, 2019 08:03A Palestinian activist at the centre of a parody of Madonna for performing at Eurovision in Israel has previously shared messages falsely claiming to tell the "truth" about "Zionist Jews".
Shahd Abusalama performs Madonna Don’t Go, a reworked version of Madonna's Papa Don't Preach that was released this week by London Palestine Action as part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel, which is hosting the Eurovision finals that are broadcast on Saturday.
The campaign is meant to urge the superstar not to perform in Tel Aviv.
In an interview to promote the track, Sheffield Hallam PhD student Ms Abusalama said: "Eurovision, the world’s biggest music event, cannot claim a message for unity while being held in Israeli apartheid.
"Until Israel ceases its decades-long systematic denial of Palestinians rights, dispossession, land appropriation and war crimes, it must be treated as the pariah state it is by all people of conscience around the world.”
But the JC has learned that Ms Abusalama once urged people to watch a video on YouTube that was full of antisemitic myths about the Talmud, including claims that the alleged oppression of Palestinians is a result of teachings about non-Jews in the book of Jewish law.
She wrote on Twitter: "Must watch this video that tells you the truth about #zionist #Jews. They take their legitimacy from #Talmud."
Must watch this video that tells the truth about #zionist #Jews. They take their legitimacy from #Talmud: http://t.co/dLyrWjLc #Israel
— ShahdAbusalama (@ShahdAbusalama) July 4, 2012
The video is called "Truth About Zionist Jews Talmud" and its description asks "Why the Zionist don't want us to know what's in Talmud?"
It adds: "Why they want the teaching of the Talmud to be known only to Jews."
In another post, Ms Abusalama wrote that the "Zionist lobbies control all this for their interest."
She added: "They buy presidents/slaves."
@LChicox5 I know! What a shame! Somehow the Zionist lobbies control all this for their interest. They buy presidents/slaves.
— ShahdAbusalama (@ShahdAbusalama) August 16, 2012
Ms Abusalama wrote in another post in 2012: "Barak Hussein Obama is bastard!
Barak Hussein Obama is bastard! Those racists should be happy now & re-elect him as he's anti-Arabs and anti-Muslims & #Zionists' puppet.
— ShahdAbusalama (@ShahdAbusalama) June 11, 2012
"Those racists should be happy now and re-elect him as he's anti-Arabs and anti-Muslims and #Zionists puppet."
In another message she wrote "no 4 any truce with Israel", adding: "Resistance is a must. Our resistance is legitimate."
No 4 any truce with #Israel. Resistance is a must. Our resistance is legitimate. Israel continues 2 commit terror & never sticks 2 any truce
— ShahdAbusalama (@ShahdAbusalama) June 22, 2012
Her song received massive publicity among Palestinian activist groups that are staging boycotts of this weekend's Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.
In her version, she reworks the original words to sing: “Madonna I know you’re going to be annoyed, cause Eurovision’s keeping you employed, but you should know by now about the BDS movement.”
Later in the song, she sings: “Israel’s been flouting international law, and human rights lie trampled on the floor.
"Just like South Africa, time to boycott apartheid. So please Madonna don’t go to Eurovision, Madonna don’t go, make the right decision.”
Madonna is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Defending her decision to perform on Saturday night, she said: “I’ll never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda, nor will I stop speaking out against violations of human rights, wherever in the world they may be.
“My heart breaks every time I hear about the innocent lives that are lost in this region and the violence that is so often perpetuated to suit the political goals of people who benefit from this ancient conflict.
“I hope and pray that we will soon break free from this terrible cycle of destruction and create a new path towards peace.”
Madonna's world tours took her to Israel in 2009 and 2012. She supports several Palestinian projects with her Ray Of Light foundation, which aims to empower women worldwide.
She is set to perform two songs at Eurovision — one classic from her back catalogue and a track from her new album Madame X.
