The Hebrew rap song “Harbu Darbu”, performed by Israeli rappers Ness and Stilla, has become popular in Israel. The song is a statement of support for the ongoing war in Gaza and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Among other things, it advocates for Israeli soldiers to kill the artist Dua Lipa, as well as the models Bella Hadid and Mia Khalifa, who have all expressed support for the Palestinians in the war. – The song glorifies the violence and the total destruction of Gaza, as well as the collective punishment of all who live there. But it was the Israeli government that first spread this rhetoric, says Pelle Valentin Olsen. Middle East historian Pelle Valentin Olsen. Photo: University of Bergen He is an associate professor and Middle Eastern historian at the University of Bergen. – The song’s popularity shows how accepted the representation that there are no civilians in Gaza has become, and that everyone is therefore a legitimate target, he says. Has topped the charts Many young Israelis have embraced the song and the spirit it represents, writes the Jerusalem Post. “Harbu Darbu” was released on 14 November last year, just over a month after the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli soldier patrols in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The picture was taken on 27 January. Photo: NICOLAS GARCIA / AFP At the time of writing, the song has over 18 million plays on YouTube and over 5 million on Spotify. “Harbu Darbu” has reached high up on the charts in Israel. The song has topped the Israeli Mako list, which measures plays on streaming services and radio, writes Business Insider. The song has also taken off on TikTok. Almost 20,000 have used the soundtrack in their own videos, many of them Israeli youth. Has received threats In response to the song on X, Khalifa makes fun of the music genre the artists use. – They can’t even advocate genocide in their own culture, they had to colonize something to get the song to the top, she writes. Khalifa is a former Playboy model. She lost her contract with the magazine when she was criticized for supporting Hamas during the October 7 terrorist attack. Mia Khalifa is among the celebrities mentioned in the rap song “Harbu Darbu”. Photo: AP The artists behind “Harbu Darbu” tell the Israeli website Ynet that they have received threats after they released the song. – But if we increase morale in the country, it is worth it, says Stilla. – Puts into words what many Israelis think Israeli Liora Sion is associate professor of Israel studies at the University of Copenhagen. – I don’t think that the song advocates genocide, but that it is to a greater extent an encouragement to the soldiers, she says. An Israeli soldier waves the Israeli flag next to a tank, near the border with Gaza. Photo: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA / Reuters Sion points out that Hamas and other Palestinian rebel groups have also made similar songs aimed at Israel. The expression “Harbu Darbu” itself is an old Arab war cry from Syria. – The song expresses the inner feelings and puts into words what many Israelis think: That they have stopped being kind, and have started “speaking Arabic”, says Sion. – The strange thing is that Israelis really believe that they were once kind or moral, she adds. – Has become incredibly popular Olsen believes that “Harbu Darbu” is a picture of where the social debate in Israel about the Palestinians has settled. – The song has become incredibly popular. It is an expression of a wider tendency and a great support for Israel’s warfare in Gaza. And that is of course cause for concern, he says. A man holds the Israeli flag during a demonstration in Tel Aviv against the Israeli prime minister, who says no to negotiations with Hamas to hand over hostages. Photo: DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters Olsen nevertheless emphasizes that even though the war in Gaza has broad support among the population, many have been critical of the government’s handling of it. – This applies in particular to the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to negotiate with Hamas to get the hostages out. It has created enormous anger in the population, he says. “Harbu Darbu” also illustrates how music can help to express and incite hatred and violence, Olsen believes. – We like to see music as something progressive, which can express criticism of power and contribute to empowerment. But here we also see the shadow side, and how popular culture contributes to creating hatred against the Palestinians, he says. That music that incites hatred and violence circulates on social media, Olsen believes, can contribute to leading listeners into a patriotic, violent and extreme world. – Historically, song and music have played an important role as an expression of nationalist feelings and extreme ideologies. This is not unique to Israel, he says.
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Israeli rap song has gone viral – calls for the IDF to kill Dua Lipa and other Western celebrities – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
