Enrico Macias: “I would like to visit Algeria, but I'll not renege my Jewish origins”

Singer Enrico Macias, who was born in Constantine (eastern Algeria) in 1938, renewed his desire to visit Algeria, if the opportunity is presented, in an interview with the French newspaper “Le Parisien” on Monday.

“I would like to visit Algeria if I had a chance, but this will be with my real name Gaston Ghrenassia, and not as Enrico Macias the singer”, he added.

Jewish singer did not deny standing alongside with “his race”, saying: “Contrary to what was romoted against me, I am not hostile to the Palestinians, but at the same time I can not be blamed due to being

close to Israelis, because they are my people”, and stressed that he did not want to disrupt the communities,pointing out that he had two dreams: The first is returning to Algeria, and the second is gathering all minorities in France, by joining Jews and Muslims, in order to “establish a political party, but not with those now in the rule of France.” In reference to the Socialist Party, which announced its

hostility.

Regarding the “hatred” which he suffered from Algerians who, told him more than once that they refuse to enter to Algeria; “The late singer Warda received a threat to kill her children if she did a duet song me, and the same thing happened with the Lebanese singer Sabah, who was prevented from singing with him”, as he expressed great admiration for Cheb Khaled, who stood next to him on several songs.