Valley of the Wolves

If Germans are genuinely interested in the Nazi past, they better look closely at Israeli current brutality.

Image from the new film 'Valley of the Wolves' shows the Israeli 'commandos' who murdered nine peace activists aboard the freedom flotilla ship Mavi Marmara and seriously injured well over 40. The victims were targeted, and it happened in international waters. Israel's act is considered piracy under international law. It was nothing more than a series of war crimes.

(LONDON) - Valley of the Wolves: Palestine is a new Turkish movie portraying the Mavi Marmara massacre as a premeditated Israeli attack that was set to kill innocent peace activists.

An uproar has erupted in Germany in the last few days over the upcoming launching of the film. The film's intended release date in Germany is January 27, the same day as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Apparently the German distributor of the film confirmed that the company had been unaware of the sensitivity of the date. However, I actually think that linking between the events is not such a bad idea.

If the International Holocaust Remembrance Day is there to remind us of crimes committed by a racist ethno-centric regime in the past, the Turkish film is there to awaken us to the colossal crimes that are committed by a racist ethno-centric regime in the present.

If Germans are genuinely interested in the Nazi past, they better look closely at Israeli current brutality.

Some German politicians have condemned both the film and the date chosen for its release. PM Kerstin Griese, of the Social Democratic Party, criticized the film for inciting to violence and fomenting anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic sentiment.

This is, no doubt, a clumsy statement.

If anything, the film is there to condemn Israeli violence that is committed daily against the Palestinian people. I would also like to remind PM Greise that opposing Israeli policies and practice is totally legitimate.

Moreover, the film is there to criticise the deep racial hatred that is imbued within the Israeli society. If Griese is, indeed, concerned with anti Semitism, he should actually advocate this anti racist film and the specific choice of the release date.

Alternatively, I am happy to join forces with Griese and respect Jewish sensitivities. We can easily dedicate January 27 to Jewish suffering, as long as we can explore and scrutinise Zionist and Israeli brutality throughout the remaining 364 days of the year.

Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). As a multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet and Flutes. His album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year in 2003. He has been described by John Lewis on the Guardian as the “hardest-gigging man in British jazz".

Gilad Atzmon's essays are widely published. His novels 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages.

As a member of the Blockheads, Gilad has also recorded and performed with Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney. Gilad has also recorded with Robert Wyatt, the Water Boys and many others. Learn more about Gilad by visiting his Website