11 Comments

Is this true of the Israeli populace in general or just these annoying left-wing elites? Israel doesn't seem like a country being torn apart from inside. I was pretty sure they were united in defeating hamas.

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"In the end, the closure of the pavilion lays bare the malaise that’s tearing apart the country from the inside. Israel’s foes may just as well sit back and enjoy the show".

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The country was united & steadfast for a few months after Oct 7. But slowly but surely the anti-Netanyahu camp (organized, well-financed, very influential) bubbled up again as it did with its overblown response to Likud's attempted judicial overhaul last year. Yes, elites are behind that, but they do have popular support among certain communities within the country. Hard to tell to what extent. I don't believe their polls (nor the pro-Netanyahu polls for that matter.) We'll only know when an election takes place. Is it time for one? Depends who you ask...

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I'm so sick of the left. Just cave to all of hamas unreasonable demands without a thought as to the future consequences like encouraging further kidnappings.

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I don't understand who decides what goes on at the Israeli pavilion. Names please. Institution or body that oversees please. If these are Israeli artists who get to decide, we should know who they are and their links to other organizations. The situation is a complete disgrace!

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Each national pavilion is managed and financed through to its own, self-determined rules. Their operations are most often handled by committees that are hardly transparent. I am not familiar with Israel's modus operandi. But here are a couple of leads:

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/04/16/artist-delays-opening-israeli-pavilion-venice-biennale-until-gaza-ceasefire-hostages-released/

https://www.happening.media/category/magazine/en/articles/611/power-plays-in-venice-how-national-representation-is-funded

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Thank you. The algemeiner article would suggest that the people behind the decision to close the Israeli pavilion are the same elites who are pushing for a deal to bring the hostages home and earlier protested judicial reform, though the statements justifying the closing of the pavilion seem to cover all bets. The cultural elites in Israel are like their woke counterparts throughout the western world, deluded, censorious, and rather depraved.

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Actually, the Israeli exhibit speaks a loud and clear message, while lacking in beauty or attracting qualities. It screams loud and clear a message for our time: "Hatred kills." Where there is hatred, there is no creativity, love, beauty, cooperation, empathy, humanity..., just a bleak poster of lifeless words.

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I hope you've sent this excellent piece to the organisers.

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"the closure of the pavilion lays bare the malaise that’s tearing apart the country from the inside. Israel’s foes may just as well sit back and enjoy the show.

Not only did those responsible for the pavilion demonstrate a lack of vision, imagination, and courage (qualities one assumes are also qualities of good art), but they also failed to take a stand for their country in a time of war"

Too many artists not only in Israel but worldwide style themselves as an Shelleyan enfant terrible victimized by a cruel world: "I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!" (Ode to the West Wind).

According to their sacred screeds, CRT and its deformed offspring, DEI, they are entitled — nay, it is their moral duty — to decry at every opportunity and at every venue the evils of the world, especially those of the World Incarnate — Israel, the Jew among the Nations.

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The Israeli artistic world has long been dominated by those who attitudes mirror the woke left unfortunately because of their complete lack of exposure to the traditional Jewish values and texts which are the basis of the right of the Jewish People to the ownership of the Land of Israel

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Excellent post. Thank you.

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