Algerian singer Khaled to Echourok: I long to visit Gaza and don’t see any problem to sing with Israelis in charity concerts

In a wide -ranging interview with Echourok, the Algerian singer Cheb Khaled has vehemently declined any kind of normalisation of relationships with the Zionist authorities and revealed that he is looking forward to visiting Gaza soon.

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• The king of Rai ( Algerian popular music) has clearly shown his stand as concerns the imprisonment of the other Algerian star Cheb Mami in France expressing his desire to see his requests to free him take into consideration by the French authorities.
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• Echourok: Have you heard about the announcement made two weeks ago concerning participation of the Algerian singer Cheb Billel in the company of a former Israeli soldier in a concert for religions’ tolerance hosted by Morocco?
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• Khaled:  I advise him not to commit the mistake
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• Echourok:  What do you mean?
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• Khaled: I don’t think that performing with a former Israeli soldier would discredit Cheb Billel but this is a violation to the Algerian stand towards the Palestinian cause and would put him in an uncomfortable situation before his fans and the Algerian authorities alike. If Billel intents to take part to this concert with the aim to join the countries that support the Israeli aggression over Palestine, he has to be punished because it’s an offence against our country and identity, but if the concert is designed to collect money for sick children and poor people around the world, we don’t have any right to judge him because he is an artist after all and has to spread joy in the heart of his fans.
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• Echourok:  Is this your opinion?
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• Khaled: the issue is not just an opinion… You have to know that the Algerians have never been hostile towards the Jews because they are not racists, it’s true that the authorities do not acknowledge the Israeli state but don’t forget that the Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika has formally invited the French singer Enrico Macias to come to Algeria 10 years ago but this one hesitated at the time preferring to come with the French president Nicholas Sarkozy as if he was seeking protection.
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• Echourok:  Does this mean that you agree to sing in Israel?
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• Khaled: I can sing anywhere except Israel, I don’t see any problem in singing with Israelis if it serves sick children and poor people around the world.
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• Echourok:  You have declared in 2008 that you were ready to fight in Gaza during the Israeli aggression if Egypt opens the Rafah passage, do you still wish it?
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• Khaled: I declared and stick to it, my wishful dream is to go to Gaza and help spreading joy in the hear of my brother Palestinians but “ I have no choice” despite numerous invitations from their part.
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• Echourok:  Have you ever been invited to sing in Israel?
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• Khaled:: Never
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• Echourok:  The French denial of Mami’s provisional release has stirred his fans’ discontent what do you think?
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• Khaled: I was sorry and outraged… Nobody wishes to see even his foe in prison, so what if the case concerns my friend and brother Mami but he made many mistakes and know his paying the price, fortunately his victim didn’t lose her life.
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