ANTI WAR SONGS

Are there songs in Hebrew that challenge war and occupation?

Today, many people are frustrated, and rightfully so, that Israeli artists are afraid to voice criticism towards the atrocities committed by the state. The only songs we have received over the past two years were often pro-genocidal chants. Criticism towards the military is often difficult because, since most people in Israel are conscripted, criticizing the military is criticizing family members and loved ones. Yet, over the years, many artists wrote about the injustices of the occupation and offensive wars and voiced their dissent.

ֿBelow are three examples of Hebrew songs that challenged war, militarism, and the occupation.

Chocolate Soldier | חייל של שוקולד

Written by Hanoch Levin

Performed by The “High Windows” (1967)

This anti-war song, written by the famed Israeli satirist, is somber, and its message is that war has only one path: towards one's grave. It sharply contrasts the rigid and ridiculed military chain of command with the lifeless body of the soldier who died for nothing. Combining biblical verses with nursery rhymes, the song is haunting. It was banned by radio stations out of fear it would demoralize the troops.

Shooting and Crying | יורים ובוכים

Written and Performed by  Si Himan (1988)

The phrase “Shooting and Crying” was already popular in Hebrew, describing the regret and guilty conscience sometimes felt by Israeli soldiers. It was coined as a derogatory term, criticizing those who dared to voice empathy toward ‘the enemy’. Heyman wrote the song during the height of the First Intifada, protesting the brutal military crackdown. She claimed the crackdown was not only immoral toward the Palestinians but also devastating for Israeli Jewish society. In the song’s climax, she asks, “When did we forget they killed our children too?” - a line that tragically compares the atrocities suffered by Jews to those being committed by Jews now. The song was banned by radio stations, which claimed it “defames the troops.”

A Matter of Habit | עניין של הרגל

Written by Alona Kimchi

Performed by Yizhar Ashdot (2012)

This song stands as one of the last major critiques of the occupation performed by a mainstream artist, illustrating the changing landscape of Israeli culture. The lyrics describe the grim routine of a soldier policing civilians in Nablus, showing how the Palestinians are slowly dehumanized in his eyes, causing him to lose the ability to empathize. The song also criticizes the growing influence of religious nationalism creeping into the army (which has arguably completely engulfed it today) with the lyrics: “Only for us is the land of Israel, To learn cruelty is a matter of habit.” The song was banned by radio stations, which claimed it “defames the troops.”