For this Jewish rock fan, ‘Free Palestine’ no longer feels like freedom - comment

A Jewish Israeli rock fan reflects on how the 'Free Palestine' slogan, once tied to liberal values, now feels exclusionary and dangerous when chanted at concerts. He criticizes its use by artists like Macklemore and Zach Bryan, describes the slogan as a call to dismantle Israel, argues true freedom for Gaza means freeing it from Hamas, and calls for a narrative acknowledging the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians.

In a personal commentary, a Jewish Israeli rock fan describes his growing alienation from the progressive music scene he once embraced. He traces his journey from attending Bruce Springsteen concerts in the 1970s to the present, where the 'Free Palestine' slogan has become a prerequisite for artists. The author recounts the Power to the People concert in Maryland, where Macklemore delivered a prerecorded message calling for 'Free Palestine,' and Chuck D of Public Enemy echoed the sentiment. He also notes country star Zach Bryan wearing a 'Free Palestine' shirt at his shows. The author argues that the slogan, chanted days before the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack, is a call to dismantle Israel and feels dangerous to Jewish concertgoers. He criticizes the silence of most artists and calls for a narrative that acknowledges the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians, concluding that true freedom for Gaza means freeing it from Hamas. The framing relies on emotionally charged vocabulary and personal anecdote rather than neutral reporting.