More information on this song making experience, including the back story, interview footage and song downloads here: thehumansoundproject.com/human-sound/make-a-better-life-promise-school-east-jerusalem/
November 2014 - East Jerusalem is a highly contested area. According to Palestinians and international law, it is under occupation by Israel, while Israel claims the whole of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. Both sides will attempt to claim it under a final (hopeful) peace deal.
I arrived in the region in the aftermath of the Gaza war otherwise known as “operation protective edge”. I was in fact scheduled to go in August but decided to do the Berlin leg of my trip first to avoid the imminent danger of the war and also in the understanding that it may not be the best time to come together to make music while a war raged on. I arrived in Israel in late October. What I found was a region still very much suffering from the tremors of the war.
During the time of my stay, there were three terrorist attacks in Jerusalem as well as a lot of Israeli reprisals, arrests and clamp downs. Two of the terrorist attacks involved hit and run incidents where a Palestinian driver drove his car into a bus stop full of people. The third incident involved two men going into a synagogue with axes and guns and murdering several people during prayers. Other than the obvious tension on the streets of Jerusalem and the riots, there was a massive police and army presence and especially in and around the neighbourhood where I was scheduled to do this song making experience.
Many people had warned me not to go to Beit Hanina because it was too dangerous, indeed some of the recent attackers actually came from Beit Hanina, a suburb ofEeast Jerusalem. But despite the warnings I decided to go. Many of the “terror” warnings are overrated and plus, I was a foreigner not an Israeli.
I had first come into contact with Amal Bac, the principal of The Promise School through my cousin from Jerusalem who had done some work there. I had heard that Amal liked to bring new activities to the children so I decided to get in contact. I wanted to create a song with Palestinian young people – to understand their story and give a voice to their song. I was invited by Amal Bac to come and visit The Promise School.
My fears about travelling to Beit Hanina were allayed when I entered the school. I immediately felt an amazing heartfelt energy emanating from the walls. The smiles on the students faces, the embrace and welcome of the vice principal in her office, the cool energy of the young teachers walking around. This was really like any other school! Except no, this was not like any other school, it was exceptional – something truly special here… I could feel it.
More information on this song making experience, including the back story, interview footage and song downloads here: thehumansoundproject.com/human-sound/make-a-better-life-promise-school-east-jerusalem/
