During an emotional concert in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, packed with people, Israeli singer Noa launched her appeal for peace and an end to war and announced Re-Imagine Peace, a musical and cultural event with Palestinians and Israelis together for a new renaissance.
Below is the full text of her speech.
Before I sing, I must speak.
Before I raise my voice to call the angels, to summon the holy spirit to open the hearts and minds of the human family, before I call the goddesses , the matriarchs, the prophetesses, the female warriors of old, the primal mothers of all things and beg them to instill compassion and kindness in the hearts of all their children, before I spread my wings of light, and transform into a bird , flying high above the land, high above the folly of men, high above the pain and sorrow , cruelty, greed, crippling fear, blinding madness, horrible violence,
Before I open my arms and invite you to join me on this journey,
I must speak in clear terms.
As an Israeli, a woman, a jew, a mother, a human being, I call for an immediate end to the horrific war being waged in Gaza, which was justified momentarily as retaliation for the monstrous attack on Israeli civilians on October 7th, where Hamas massacred, raped, maimed and kidnapped men women and children , but has since warped monstrously into a war of messianic, insane, illegal and immoral attack on innocent civilians including thousands of children, who are being starved and killed indiscriminately. It is beyond words, beyond imagination, I m devastated and disgusted and furious, I want to raise my voice clearly and unequivocally: not in my name is this being done, nor in the name of millions of Israelis who have been tricked, brainwashed, lied to , betrayed and kidnapped, yes, kidnapped!…by an insane, corrupt demonic group of individuals who will lead not only Gaza but Israel too, to her death, if they are not stopped. It is important that you know, we in Israel are fighting valiantly against these criminals, as the Gazans, even in the unspeakable tragedy they are suffering, raise their courageous voices against Hamas often on pain of death, and we all need your help. We ask you to stand with the Israeli people, NOT the Israeli government, just as you should stand with the Palestinian people, NOT with Hamas. We need you, we need the international community , but NOT with more hatred and war mongering and poisoning , NOT more propaganda, lies, antisemitism and islamophobia, NOT more weapons, NO, no more bombs! we need clear, firm diplomatic action, we need our friends to denounce the insane leadership of BOTH sides and support moderate leadership, insisting on the IMMEDIATE end to the war, the IMMEDIATE return of all hostages, the IMMEDIATE commencement of a diplomatic process that will ensure the security and prosperity of both Israelis and Palestinians. Recognize Palestine alongside Israel, not Palestine instead of Israel. Do not seek to fix one tragedy as you create another. That is a recipe for eternal bloodshed and nobody will be spared. Not in the middle east, not anywhere. Support the two state solution, we all need to have a place of security in which to flourish, with our language, culture and identity…nobody wants to force themselves on the other, occupy and rule and abuse another, rather, from a balanced place, a confident place, we seek to reach out to each other and build bridges and bonds, for the mutual wellbeing of all. It will take time, we are two deeply wounded , traumatized people, but this is the road we must take. We cannot fix the past, but we can definitely fix the future.
In a few months, my dear Florentine friends, you will have an opportunity to raise your voice for peace together with us, here in your city, in a beautiful, unique 24 hour festival we are organizing together with dear Mayor Sara Funaro, city hall and all our partners, called “Re-Imagine Peace”…Sept 13+14, just as the summer comes to an end.
We will bring to you, speakers, organizations, artists and musician of all genres, Palestinian and Israeli working together, bravely re-imagining our present and future, spreading light and hope , running where the road is broken, singing where no words are spoken. From the city of the birth of the Renaissance, we hope to encourage a new renaissance, of compassion, co-existence and peace.
Entrance will be free,
Join us, bring your friends and children, come to learn and support and listen and share and sing and dance the dance of hope. We need you.
Thank you!
