Theodorakis, an anti-Semite?

Theodorakis with Igal Alon in 1972

To make things clear:

While presenting his new book “Pou Na Vro Tin Psychi Mou” (Where will I find my soul?), Mikis Theodorakis also spoke, off the record, about the "problem of Israel". The fact that the main Greek dailies didn't even mention his comments shows already how small the importance of his statement was.

Nevertheless, when, a week later (!), it was published by the rightwinged newspaper "Apogevmatini", taken out of context and made known, the result has been an unbelievable polemic: Pages and pages of electronic mail and inscriptions in the guest book arrive here and in Athens.

After a week of polemics, we have reopened the guestbook to show to what abyss of insanity and infamy perverse minds can dive, be they Israelis, Jews, Neonazis, fascistes or anti-Semites. Of course there is also "pro and contra" expressed sincerely and honestly, otherwise one could just desperate.

We counter them with the declaration of Mikis Theodorakis himself. This is our contribution to a discussion that, decidedly, doesn't honour those who started it.

Guy Wagner
Webmaster - Chairman of the International Theodorakis Foundation FILIKI

MIKIS THEODORAKIS
Epiphanous 1
117 42 ATHEN
Tel. 00 30 210 9214863
Fax 9236325
E-mail. Theodorakis@hol.gr

DECLARATION

My opinion of the Israeli people, as on all things, has always been known and I am frankly at a loss as to why such a great commotion was made this time, as if it was heard for the first time. Maybe some people judged this to be the right time to launch an attack on me.

I was always on the side of the weak, of those struggling for the Justice of People. And among them were the Israeli People. I sang their suffering as well as I could. I was always in favor of the peaceful coexistence of peoples. And I showed this in practice, when, among other things, I undertook a mediatory role between Alon and Arafat in the incidents of 1972.

But, precisely for these reasons, I am totally opposed to Sharon’s policy and I have stressed this repeatedly, just as I have repeatedly condemned the role of prominent American Jewish politicians, intellectuals and theorists in the shaping of today’s aggressive Bush “policy.”

Only through a conscious effort can anyone confuse the Israeli People, for whom I have shown my respect and wonder in practice and these negative phenomena which are what truly blacken the image of Israel and play a genuine “anti-Semitic” role. It is these which are on the side of Evil, the root of Evil, as I stated recently.

Personally, I am happy because I know that there are many Israelis all over the world and within Israel who agree with me and are striving for the true Justice of their People and can coexist with the Justice of other People as well, who are struggling for Peace in their region and the whole world. I am happy that we have been together in these joint struggles for decades now. And I know that they know me well through these struggles and they are not waiting for the mud of some in order to get to know me.

But perhaps this is the aim of those who suddenly “discovered” my ideas and slander me as an alleged “anti-Semite.”

Athens, 12.11.2003

Mikis Theodorakis