They Said...
A song about a massacre, and by extension about the denial of history among some Zionists, who won't acknowledge the violent acts carried out in Israel's name. The incident in the song, Deir Yassin, took place in 1948, and became a key turning point in the region's conflict, with Jewish forces showing a willingness to attack, and many Arabs fleeing as a result. In "They Said...", Leon depicts some of the brutality of the assault and offers the kind of responses which are typically heard from Israel's supporters, when massacres such as these are brought up.
The song debuted on the CD, Article 14 in 2001, issued by Irregular Records to raise funds for The Medical Foundation For The Care Of Victims Of Torture. It was later brought into Leon's own discography.
The song debuted on the CD, Article 14 in 2001, issued by Irregular Records to raise funds for The Medical Foundation For The Care Of Victims Of Torture. It was later brought into Leon's own discography.
"The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was a triumph for the Zionist dream and a catastrophe for the Palestinians who were dispossessed of their homeland... 'They Said...' juxtaposes a picture of the Deir Yassin massacre based on eye-witness accounts (though the reality was far more horrific) with the routine response of Israel and its Zionist supporters when confronted by the atrocities in their history - denial and a refusal to acknowledge responsibility for the Palestinian tragedy." - (Turning Silence Into Song (songbook), p75)
Recordings
Version 1 (2001)
- Article 14 Various artists charity album
- The Last Chance (EP)
- Turning Silence Into Song
- The Last Chance (Extended EP)