Metal bands from Israel and Palestine are joining together for an 18 gig tour to promote a message of peace.

Israeli band Orphaned Land is joining forces with the Palestinian band Khalas for an 18 gig tour that will visit 6 different countries.  The purpose of the tour is to promote peace and unity between the Palestinian and Israeli people.  The bands will live together and share a tour bus for their tour, and they also plan on working together in the future.  Members of each group have told the media that they hope their children will one day form their own band. 

According to the Guardian “at a concert to launch their European tour in Tel Aviv last week, Orphaned Land’s lead singer, Kobi Farhi, and Khalas’s lead guitarist, Abed Hathut, explained their mission.

“We can’t change the world, but we can give an example of how coexistence is possible,” said Farhi. “Sharing a stage and sharing a bus is stronger than a thousand words. We’ll show how two people from different backgrounds who live in a conflict zone can perform together.”

“We are metal brothers before everything,” said Hathut. But, he added, “there is no bigger message for peace than through this tour”.

Ophaned Land made the following post to their website, announcing the tour and stating its goals:

ORPHANED LAND, the pioneers of Oriental Metal, proudly announce the support acts that will be joining them for their upcoming European tour: Klone (France), Bilocate (Jordan), Khalas a.k.a The Arabic Rock Orchestra (Israel/Palestine) and The Mars Chronicle (France) as the opening act.

It’s a well known fact that Orphaned Land devotedly speak about the power of music to turn supposed enemies into friends, amongst others by strongly encouraging collaborations with artists from different cultural and religious backgrounds.

On the “All is One” tour, for the very first time, you will see bands from Israel, Palestine, Jordan and France all together as one, proving that music is the only voice of hope that can bring people together.

Orphaned Land release their highly anticipated new album, entitled “All is One”, on June 24th and will be on the road for their European headlining tour this fall. For dates and tickets visit www.orphaned-land.com

Join us and support this courageous musical journey!

Using art as a tool for activism is one of my favorite topics, because it is something that i have practiced for many years in my other work.  This year at the 10th annual porcupine freedom festival i had the ability to host a discussion on the subject of art and its relation to philosophy.  Footage from that discussion can be viewed below:

VIEW VIDEO

http://intellihub.com/2013/07/22/israeli-and-palestinian-metal-bands-unite-for-all-is-one-tour/