John Kerry
John KerryFlash 90

A group of left-wing Israeli artists, and Palestinian Arab artists, has written to United States Secretary of State John Kerry with a message of support for his efforts in obtaining an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

In a letter to Kerry, the artists said they were “honored” at the opportunity to express “our full support for your efforts to promote peace between the two countries.”

Managing negotiations between Israel and the PA is “an extremely difficult task” which Kerry has approached with “patience,” they continued.

The group of artists includes such well-known Israeli figures as writers David Grossman and Sami Michael, and performers Gila Almagor, Rivka Michaeli, and Achinoam Nini (Noa). The latter recently made headlines for refusing to accept a prize for her music after learning that a right-wing musician, Ariel Zilber, was to be awarded as well.

The group lambasted Israeli politicians who have criticized Kerry over his proposals, which have included a full Israeli withdrawal from the strategically valuable Jordan Valley and the creation of an Arab capital city in Jerusalem.

“We realize that the conflict between the two sides has become fertile ground for demagogues and extremists… [and] the grating voices we hear speaking against the help America gives to moderate voices for peace,” they wrote.

Group member Gila Almagor told the Hebrew-language daily Yediot Aharonot that her goal in signing the letter was “to show Kerry that Israel is not refusing peace.”