"the bell that still can ring"..singing for peace despite everything....

Hello friends,

As some of you might have heard, I will be representing Israel in the Eurovision song contest in May, together with my good friend Mira Awad.

I imagine this may come as a surprise to some of you……

I had been offered this position in the past and refused. This year I agreed, with the goal of using this huge media platform (many millions of viewers) as a means to convey a message of peace in these difficult times, together with my friend Mira . We will write and perform the song together, in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. With a message such as this, and artistic freedom , I am proud to represent Israel in the Eurovision.

Mira Awad is a Palestinian-Israeli singer/songwriter/actress. We have collaborated often in the past 8 years. She is a gem, a brave, talented unique woman. She represents 1.5 million Palestinians living in Israel as Israeli citizens.

The war in Gaza is a horrible tragedy for all of us, as all our many wars and acts of terror have been over the years. The innocent lives lost, year after year, are heart-breaking and unbearable for both sides.

Mira and I want to convey a message of peace and dialogue during these difficult times, to show that co-existence is STILL an option, our only one!

Our friendship is living proof of this.

We have not lost hope!

To quote the one and only Leonard Cohen:

“Ring the bell that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in”

Sending you all my best wishes, shalom and saalam,

Noa (Achinoam Nini)

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Comment by laury on January 13, 2009 at 3:18pm: I couldnt resist the temptation...of writing my comment from Beirut. I discovered the ipeace group through your article in Ynet about Gaza, and today I read about your nomination on Ynet... I wish one day the voices of peace will be louder than the sounds of F16, merkavas...and Grads...
i am so convinced that the Middle East is the place where everything is possible, where you find all contradictions...and the place where you find peace during war time...pure human madness!!
You and Mira have my support from Beirut...just to add more spicies to the ongoing madness.

Comment by Lidewy on January 13, 2009 at 12:39pm: This is momentous! Finally two amazing, beautiful voices with a powerful message of peace. I vowed not to stay home to watch the ESC anymore, but now I simply have to change my mind. I truly hope that the audience will be able to listen with open souls & ears. No doubt the song will be vibrating and the lyrics touching everyone's heart, a frequence of peace & light going out in the world, finding resonance, touching people. In peace and light, Li

Comment by myron joshua on January 12, 2009 at 7:20pm: Wonderful idea. I wait to see the lyrics and hear what musical motifs you incorporate.
It would also be wonderful to hear Mira on IPeace.
I saw her in the play Return to Haifa, a very special production.