Leaders and representatives of Jenin condemned the participation of Palestinian Authority youths from the community in a concert honoring Holocaust survivors in Holon last week, accusing the organizers of exploiting the children for "political purposes". Ramzi Fayad, a spokesman for various political factions in Jenin, denounced the teenagers’ participation, saying that all the groups were strongly opposed to any form of normalization with Israel.
Leaflets distributed in the Jenin area over the weekend also attacked the event and warned the PA residents against participating in similar events in the future. Sources said that the political factions in Jenin have also decided to ban an Israeli Arab woman who helped organize the event from entering the city. The 13 PA musicians, aged 11 to 18, are members of the Palestinian Authority orchestra 'Strings of Freedom' that is based in the community.The concert was held at the Holocaust Survivors' Center as part of "Good Deeds Day," an annual event organized by an organization belonging to Israeli billionaire Shari Arison.