An appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival is a pivotal moment for any band, but for White Flag, a unique ensemble of musicians from Israel and the Palestinian territories, this moment carries even greater significance. After being apart for five years without the opportunity to perform together, their reunion is marked by deep emotional resonance.

Formed in 1999, White Flag consists of five Israelis and four Palestinians, earning the label of a "band in exile." Following the formation, they played around 20 gigs in Israel until the onset of the second intifada in 2000 scattered the members across different countries. Some relocated to the United States, one moved to Switzerland, while two others found themselves confined in the Gaza Strip.

Five years later, thanks to the relentless efforts of a Swiss television editor and the navigation of various diplomatic challenges, the band reunited in Switzerland. Band member Zaher Abdu Aljawad expressed the significance of their reunion: "This is our first meeting in five years, since the start of the second intifada... I never thought we would meet again – and when we did it was magical, like a dream."

In early May, the band arrived in Lucerne after receiving an invitation from the city's mayor, Urs Studer. They subsequently performed two nights at Montreux and recorded their first CD, titled "White Flag – a Band in Exile." However, the project faced numerous hurdles. Urban Frye, an editor and producer at Swiss-German television, highlighted the challenges: "It was really difficult getting them together for two reasons. The first is that every time you mention the word 'Palestinian,' people are immediately suspicious about giving a visa. In the end, I rang the mayor of Lucerne, who is an old friend, and he came up with the idea of inviting the whole band, which opened a lot of doors."

The second challenge was the concern of two musicians from the Gaza Strip, who feared potential repercussions for their families upon learning that they were traveling to Switzerland to collaborate with Israeli musicians. Frye had to engage the Swiss mission in Ramallah to obtain official approval from the Palestinian minister for culture.

The political context of the Middle East remains a constant backdrop for the band. During their time in Montreux, percussionist Katja Cooper and vocalist Yasin Almallahi discussed Israel's impending withdrawal from Gaza. There has been speculation that White Flag and their Middle Eastern street-fusion sound could symbolize a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Switzerland has played a supportive role, providing logistical and organizational assistance for the band. However, Ivo Sieber, a spokesman for the Swiss foreign ministry, emphasized that the decision regarding White Flag's potential role in promoting peace initiatives ultimately lies with Israeli and Palestinian partners.

While the band emphasizes their identity as artists focused on music, they recognize the external interest in their work. Cooper, now residing in San Francisco, remarked, "As long as we can play the music the way we want to play it and don’t have to shout politics, it would be nice to represent the Palestinians and the Israelis. We’re an example of what’s possible – that your nationality and ethnic background don’t matter."

The band's aspiration is to perform together once more in Israel and, if feasible, in the Palestinian territories. Frye noted that the primary barrier to this goal is the Israeli Defence Force, which must authorize the entry of Israeli musicians into the occupied territories and vice versa for Palestinian musicians.

Yasin, who left his newborn child in Gaza to travel to Switzerland, remains optimistic. He believes in the necessity of mutual commitment to peace from both sides. "Peace has to come from both sides – Israeli and Palestinian – and there has to be will and understanding on both sides," he stated. "If we succeed with our CD and our music and get a little more famous, then it could become easier for us to travel around. We are just musicians, and we should be able to play anywhere. We shouldn’t be in exile."

Source: swissinfo, Adam Beaumont https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/carrying-the-flag-for-middle-east-fusion/4618304