Our reaction to the Artforum open letter

כמה מגזיני אמנות מרכזיים, וביניהם ״ארט פורום״, פרסמו היום מכתב למוסדות תרבות מטעם ״קהילת האמנות״, הקורא להפסקת אש. המכתב, שעליו חתומים מאות אמנים, אמניות וא.נשי תיאוריה של האמנות, לא מזכיר ולו במילה את טבח 1800 הישראלים והזרים שנערך ב-7.10, לא את הפשעים המחרידים שנעשו במהלכו, ולא את 200 החטופים, מרביתם אזרחים וביניהם גם תינוקות, ילדים, קשישים ונכים.
כאנשי אמנות וכפעילים פוליטיים שתומכים מזה שנים בהתנגדות לכיבוש הישראלי, אנחנו המומים ומאוכזבים לקרוא מכתב כזה, החתום ע״י א.נשים שהחשבנו כשותפים למאבק, ודוחים בשאט נפש את התעלמותם המוחלטת מפשעי המלחמה של חמאס.

קישור לחתימה על המכתב: https://forms.gle/q89sUqJLEn1TfF659

https://www.erev-rav.com/archives/english/both-should-come-together

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As members of the Israeli Art community and political activists who are involved in the protest movement against the occupation, we’re utterly disgusted by the open letter from THE ART COMMUNITY TO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS in Gaza. That letter is signed by people we believe are our colleagues friends and comrades, individuals with whom we shared many ideals added to the already deep sadness, fear, and despair that we are already in since October 7th.

The unfortunate letter published in several major art magazines, such as Artforum, Hyperallergic and Artlink, is a stain of hypocrisy and a total lack of moral judgment by those who claim to represent the art world. It's not because of what's in it (which we can somewhat agree with) but because of what it lacks. Not to mention the brutal massacre on October 7th of civilians – Jews, Arabs, Bedouins, Thai workers, Nepalese students, and tourists, the massacre of hundreds at the rave, the rapes, brutalization, the mutilation of bodies, and the killing of medical workers (many of whom are Palestinian citizens of Israel). To delve into the details of Gaza and then make a general statement that we condemn violence from all sides? Really? How is this letter even possible and signed by so many people?

What's most upsetting is the complete absence of any mention of over 200 people kidnapped, most of them civilians, including babies, children, old and sick people. Yes, we accept calls for ending the violence and supporting Palestinian liberation and the end of the occupation (like we have for years), but not by ignoring the rights of all who live in Israel. It's as if you're dehumanizing all of us, the 9 million people who have a right to exist.

The fight for liberation and freedom must be a shared effort involving all who believe in these principles, fighting together to achieve them. It is vital to acknowledge the suffering of everyone rather than adhering to extremist fundamentalist ideologies, which have brought us to this harrowing point in time. There is no contradiction between staunchly opposing the Israeli subjugation and occupation of Palestinians and unequivocally condemning brutal acts of violence against innocent civilians in Israel. Every consistent person with ideals and morals must hold both positions simultaneously.

קישור לחתימה על המכתב (בנוסח דומה): https://forms.gle/q89sUqJLEn1TfF659