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What does Israel have against Palestinian singer, Mohammed Assaf?
RAMZY BAROUD argues that the banning of the singer from Gaza who won ‘Arab Idol’ from ever returning to perform in his homeland is not a new outrage but a continuation of a long-running war on the cultural existence of indigenous Arabs in the region
Singer Mohammad Assaf was born in Gaza but lives in the United Arab Emirates — now thanks to his pro-Palestinian lyrsics, Israel has revoked his right to visit his homeland
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WHY does Israel hate Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf? On October 16, Avi Dichter, Israeli Member of Parliament from the right-wing Likud Party, announced that Assaf’s special permit to enter the occupied Palestinian West Bank would be revoked.
Assaf, originally from Gaza, now lives with his family in the United Arab Emirates. He achieved stardom in 2013, when he won the Arab Idol singing contest. His winning song, “Raise your Keffiyeh”, represented a rare moment of unity among all Palestinian communities everywhere.
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