Anti-Zionism, Gangnam-style - Middle East politics have gone ‘Gangnam-Style’ with a YouTube video about Palestine to rival the South Korean hit. It’s a far cry from sharp suits and scantily clad ladies but Egyptian band, Baladeyat (Homies) Band have released an online smash hit.
The song, ‘Ana Sohyooni Wati” (I’m a Low-Life Zionist), has nearly 80,000 views despite the band being relative unknowns even in their own country. But the group, formed in 2008, say they weren’t looking to attack anyone with their lyrics.
The song discusses the occupation of Palestine but puts some distance between Zionists and the Jewish religion. Pretending to be a “mean Zionist”, the guys sing:
“Like the Christ, your blood in my hands will bleed, and I will fight all religions.”
The video itself features an unusual looking Santa Claus burning a crucifix and a Muslim crescent on a barbecue and using TV mics as guns.
The tune goes on to accuse Zionists of stealing gas reserves from Egypt, singing: “We took gas without an invoice and Arabs did nothing.” Critics say it is more of an attack on Hosni Mubarak than the current government under new president, Morsi but the group have still had to defend the lyrics, saying they are not referencing any “public figure either today or historically.”
Despite assurances that the song is not anti-Semitic, many people in the Middle East still equate Zionism with Judaism. As such, the song is certainly a controversial release at a time when anti-religious videos have caused outrage in the region and abroad.
Last month amateurish American B-movie ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ led to the deaths of four US embassy staff in Benghazi and violence in Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt. And just this week the Lebanese government banned Turkish movie ‘Fetih 1453’ from its cinemas after it was deemed offensive to Christians.
However, so far there has been no suggestion of YouTube pulling the surprising hit, leaving it to collect views and move up the online charts.
