I didn’t do anything, I just composed

Hamas carried out the largest attack against Israel in recent years. The Israeli army declared a “state of war alert.” While warm contacts continue in the region, George Tutari, the composer of the Kovia band’s song “Leve Palestina Krossa Sionismen”, which became famous around the world and became a symbol of the pro-Palestinian protests, tells the story of his song. “I didn’t do anything, I just wrote the song and people liked it, especially young people, and spread it all over the world,” Tutari said. He said.

The Swedish band’s song “Leve Palestina” became a symbol of the Palestinian struggle around the world, and began to be sung on social media and in squares.

The Palestinian Nasserite lyricist George Totary, who left his country and settled in Sweden during the war that Israel started in 1967, spoke about the Al-Kofia band that he founded with Swedish musicians in 1972, and how their songs became a symbol of resistance, and what happened in Gaza.

“I wrote the song 50 years ago.”

Totri said that he did not expect the song to become so popular: “I wrote this song 50 years ago, and it has gradually become popular. I see people singing this song without knowing any Swedish. There is also an Arabic translation. I did that.” Nothing, I just wrote the song and people liked it, especially the youth and spread it all over the world,” he gave his assessment.

Al-Tutari explained that he did his best to make the work useful to the Palestinian people, and stated that the song “Leve Palestina” entered the hearts of people from all over the world.

Emphasizing that people are singing his song everywhere, the artist said: “This song is sung in many protests in Sweden, but the government supports Israel. They do not see that our children are dying there and that Israel is bombing us. Politics today is almost “like business.” You and I are nothing to them. “We don’t express that. Only their trade is important to them,” he said.

“Palestine was a center for all religions and cultures.”

George Tutari confirmed that he was concerned about security due to the popularity of his song and said:

“I have to be careful these days. You don’t know where the enemy will come from. Our enemy can be anyone, even Muslims and Palestinians. Because there are a lot of people who have relations with Israel. Israel always lies. They invaded my country.” He said: “Palestine was a desert, and there were no Palestinians there. And there were not.” “They still say the same thing today. But Palestine was the center of trade. It was the center of all religions and cultures. It is a land of cultural richness. They imprisoned us and stripped us of our roots and our culture.”

Noting that they are accused of anti-Semitism when they criticize Zionism, Netanyahu, the war and Israel’s policies in Sweden, Tutari said, “They are killing us, but we cannot talk about it. They are destroying our ideas. For example, the song ‘Long Live Palestine’ says ‘Long Live Palestine.'” They submitted the song to the Swedish Parliament because of the phrase “Down with Zionism,” and the former opposition leader, who now holds the position of Prime Minister, said that the song was anti-Zionism. Semitic, but in that song we also said “Down with fascism,” and this is not a position against the Jews, but Against an ideology that exploits our country, imprisons us, and treats us badly. They say that Arabs and Muslims have no brains. “The best Arab is the dead Arab.” “You even see on the news that they are planning to drop an atomic bomb on Gaza. They say they will kill everyone in Gaza, whether children or women, because they believe everyone there supports Hamas. Israel created Hamas. Every occupied country in the world is fighting with stones and missiles.” “,” and with a pistol. What is the problem? Does everyone who fights for freedom in the world become Hamas? What kind of world do we live in? If you fight for your freedom, you become a terrorist,” he said.

“I would be very happy if you gave a concert to the Turkish audience.”

The Tutari artist confirmed that people were living in peace in Palestine and provided the following information:

“We have lived with the Jews in Palestine for thousands of years. Before the Jews came here, there were Philistines and Canaanites. When the Christians came here, many Jews became Christians. When the Muslims came, many Jews and Christians became Muslims. In fact, the same People are killing each other. Those who came to our country from Europe came with hatred and a sense of revenge. There are people who think that I am not an Arab because I am a Christian. However, every person can choose his religion. “Some people think that I am an enemy of Muslims. Why should I be an enemy? My son is married to a Lebanese Muslim woman. My daughter married a Turkish man. He wants us to be racist so he can kill us easily. “They want us to become terrorists and strip us of our humanity. They openly call us “animals.” If we call us Jewish animals, they will declare us all terrorists.”

Tutari expressed his appreciation for the protests carried out by the Turkish people during this period, and said: “Of course I would like to come and meet the Turkish people if it is useful for my people. I believe that the Turks should unite with others.” He added: “If he sees you moving, he will be afraid. I will be very happy if you come to Turkey and give the Arab countries a chance for something tangible to happen. Because the West believes that the Turks are united with the Arab world and Iran.” A concert for the Turkish audience,” he said.

After its founding in 1972, the group released four albums, three CDs, and one cassette tape since the beginning of the first intifada in Palestine in 1987.

Among Kofia’s most listened to songs are “Eld”, “Leve Palestina, Krossa Sionismen”, “Baladi” and “Dom Dödar Vara Kamrater”.