Mohamed Ramadan (m) embraces Israeli singer Omar Adam (l)
The well-known Egyptian singer Mohamed Ramadan has to appear in court because he has been photographed with an Israeli colleague and an Israeli professional football player. That happened at a party in Dubai.
A lawyer filed a complaint because Ramadan allegedly insulted the Egyptian people. The artists’ union has suspended him, pending an investigation.
Egypt already made peace with Israel in 1978, but befriending Israelis is still a sensitive issue.
Rooftop party
For Ramadan, the trouble started on Saturday, when Arabic-language Facebook and Twitter accounts of the state of Israel showed a photo taken on a rooftopparty in Dubai. Ramadan met his Israeli colleague Omer Adam there and had himself photographed with Adam. “Art always brings us together”, it said.
In another photo, Ramadan is arm in arm with Arab-Israeli footballer Dia Saba, who plays football for a professional club from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
There is also circulating a video that would have been made at the same party. Dancing people can be seen on it. The Jewish song can be heard Hava nagila.
Crime
The publications provoked furious reactions on Egyptian social media. Ramadan was charged with treason by the Palestinians. A well-known Egyptian TV host said he had committed an “outright” crime and called on the artists’ union to take tough measures to prevent a recurrence.
The union chairman suspended Ramadan pending an investigation. That must take place after his return from Dubai. He may be disbarred. A journalists’ union is calling on its members to boycott Ramadan until the investigation is completed.
Ramadan rejects the criticism. According to him, his critics grudge his success. He says he never asks people who want to be in their picture with him where they are from, but also that he would not have had a picture with Adam if he had known Adam was from Israel.
Photo can turn out bad
“That’s how it can work if you are in a picture with someone from Israel,” said Middle East correspondent Daisy Mohr. “It’s hard for us to imagine, but people in this region know this all too well. It happens regularly and can turn out badly. It causes problems at international conferences, sporting events and also beauty pageants. A photo like that with someone. from Israel that goes viral on social media, can always be used against you. “
Israel concluded a peace agreement with the UAE in August. That means that more and more Israelis will be moving to the UAE and Dubai. Mohr has already heard from Lebanese that they will be extra wary of such chance encounters and photos there. “For residents of Arab countries that do not have a peace agreement, such as Lebanon and Syria, it can be extremely annoying.”
First country
Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, but many Egyptians are vehemently against normalizing relations between the two countries. Between 1948 and 1973, Israel and Egypt fought four wars. In addition, most Egyptians believe that Israel is oppressing the Palestinians.
In addition to Egypt and the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain and Sudan have now also made peace with Israel. Yesterday, it was revealed that the Israeli Prime Minister had a secret meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
