Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: A. Waheed
country: USA
comments: I salute to all individuals who stand for the human rights and are struggling on various fronts to ease the human sufferings. I appreciate Khalife's stance against oppressive forces and I stand with his against those who have been continuously defying the international laws, wills of their people, and working on human cleansing whether it is in Palestine, Kosovo, Kashmir or Africa.

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: Niran Al-Ubaidi
country: USA
comments: I am the host of one of America's only Arabic radio programs, "Sawt Al Arab" (The Voice of Arabia) here in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bravo, Marcel!
Best wishes from the Sawt Al Arab Team,
Niran Al-Ubaidi, Host
Osama Baghdady, Co-Host
Nader Masadeh, Co-Host
Khaled Hajjar, Co-Host
Dr. Muthar Al-Ubaidi, Political and Cultural Advisor

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: chaker ayadi
country: dubai, United Arab Emirates
comments: i am quite ambivalent about marcel khalife's decision to boycott the Adelaide Festival. it is a rather untenable stance sometimes to absent oneself and deprive so many admirers of his presence on stage. and for what? because of the presence of an israeli musician backed by his government. until when are we going to choose absence over presence? omission over clear and bold participation? while this decision is louded by the ones who heard about it, still the vast majority of marcel khalife's admirers will not even know that he was even invited to this festival, and so miss the political point the artist was trying to make. marcel khalife should have participated and opened some space for arabic culture and music in australia. he could have given the chance to the supporters of the palestinian just cause to educate the audience by distributing literature about the palestinian struggles during the concert. at the very least, his supporters could have organized a fringe concert for marcel khalife outside the Adelaide Festival so not to deprive so many of his great music. marcel khalife should have allowed his powerful music to speak for itself.

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: Basem El-Kurd
country: USA
comments: I salute you on such courageous decision. We need more like you.
All the best

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: Basil
country: Lebanon
comments: I am outraged..... As I read the countless messages from Arabs around the world supporting Marcel's stance.
It is clear display of our narrow-minded, brain-washed minds.
Thank you for making me proud to be an Arab!

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: Abu Rob
country: Jordan
comments: What I like to say is less than what other people said, but i want to share my opinion with all of your supporters by saying it's when the voice of art sing a holy song, it should be done by Marcel Khalife. We all support you as always.

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: Agwilal Lachgar
country: Morocco
comments: Human Right Defender?!!!

Saturday, February 3, 2001
name: Dr. Dia
country: Germany
comments: Marhaba Marcel
C'est un travail tres bon, et je vous souhaite bonne chance.

Marcel singt nicht nur für Libanesen , auch für alle Menschen , die von Freiheit und Liebe was verstehen. Er ist Symbol der Einheit und das National bewustsein , er ist Libanese , Araber ,Muslime und Christ ; er spricht durch singen unser Hofnung auf bessere Welt.
Für alle die Ihn gern kritisieren , habe ich nur einen Wort : Kritik soll zivilisiert sein .
Ich bin stolz auf unser Idol und unser Botschafter in den ganzen Welt.
Libanon ohne Marcel ist wie ein Land ohne Blumen , Erde und Wasser.
Mach weiter lieber Marcel , du kannst auf uns verlassen .
Halim

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: rabea chaudhry
dear sir,
I heard about how you withdrew from the international music festival in protest of the israeli musician participating in it. i want to thank you for your courage and strength of character. What you have done is truly reflective of your strong beliefs in morality and justice. You have my full support.
rabea chaudhry

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: Ahmed Bouzid
country: USA
comments: Dear Marcel,
Dropping a note to express my admiration for principled stand in your withdrawal from the Womadelaide festival. As an international celebrity and a highly respected and admired artist, your moral stand and your expression of solidarity send an important message to the world that injustice should not and will not go long unnoticed.
Yours,
Ahmed Bouzid
Palestine Media Watch
http://www.pmwatch.org

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: Anna Bazzi Backhouse
country: australia
comments: Dear Marcel,
Eventhough I had considered going to the festival and would of undoubtedly loved to have seen you, on this occasion I am happy to listen to your CD's instead. The message is still not clear that the government of Israel are a repressive and violent regime - consider Sharon, now, the likely Head of State - who would of thought? The butcher of the Middle East rises to this position!
As for the festival, we always need to ask who are these artists performing? and who is subsidising them? only then can we understand their intentions and evaluate its true meaning.

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: Free Man
country: Jordan Scn. Tech. Unv.
comments: Dear Marcel...
Day after day I respect more and more...
But I think that we haven't to thank you because its your duty to be with you
parents in Palestine and in the South. It's our duty to be with them not to let them to the monsters of earth...
When I remember my home land at Palestine and at Haiffa I start singing one of your songs with myself...
Even in my university, a group of my friends and I always set together and start singing your songs.
With a high voice to let all the world hear us and to let them know that Palestine is in our hearts...
Khaled

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: essam nagy
country: Egypt
comments: my dear marcel,indeed the festival is the only looser in such a decision you have taken, as they will lose a voice & lyrics like yours..
anyways i think you have done right, but the very thing that makes me angry that the people there will lack to hear our music, our heritage, that you carry it whenever you go.. but it seems that there is no other way to keep our word alive & our case alive except this..
As you said in aljisr "WE HAVE NO CHOICE EXCEPT TO MAKE OUR SHIRTS AS FLAGS.." , THANKS GOD THAT WE HAVE AN ARTIST LIKE YOU IN OUR ARABIAN HOME..

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: Maher Kouraytem
country: Lebanon , Beirut
comments: I support Marcel Khalife in his decision, and in all his replies to Womadelaide .
--Womadelaide have chosen an Israeli singer to participate in the name of the Fachist and Nazist Government of Israel , i think that if there were an Unofficial-Israeli real Left Winger singer participating , that knows the meaning of human unity , humanity , and human rights , like Comrade Marcel Khalife , he would participated . Unfortunately some in the West are ignorant when it comes to the Crisis of Palestine and aren't making any effort to see all the truth .
--I hope that Marcel Khalife would be able to sing in Palestine / Israel , whatever the name is , when they stop the killing , when the governement free all the detainees , when the Palestinians have the right to return to their lands , in other words when Zionism doesn't exist anymore in Israel .

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: Nada Hudson
country: Scotland-UK
comments: Thanks!!
Dear Marcel
Have just learned that you had from participation in Womadelaide 2001 world music festival in Australia. Your stand, I'm told, was in support of the people of Palestine and Lebanon and in protest over the participation of an Israeli singer officially supported by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Israel in Australia. Thanks so much Marcel, you make your people proud of you, a big support from us Lebanese and Palestinians in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In solidarity
Nada

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: Jeanette Cool
country: United States of America
comments: I commend and applaud your decision not to participate in the Womadelaid 2001 concert as a protest against Israel and as a support to the Palestinian People as they resist unlawful and violent occupation.
As the wife of a Palestinian musician here in the USA, we also are selecting our engagements with these political views as a guide and ruler for decision. Thank you for this strong stand.

Sunday, February 4, 2001
name: abdallah el ayoubi
country: aruba netherland antilles
comments: Hi marcel, Great! my opinion with you, let every body know what israel do with our people in lebanon and palestine. I know you marcel when i was 8 years in el khoura, you are still the same, nationalist, mounadil, arabi,I like to meet you in a concert in lebanon, or you come visit latin america. congratulation, with glory for our people.