The only occupation is that of the recent Arab settlers on our land of thousands of years. They have 99% of Middle east and 22-30 countries ..ours is not for sale. We will add this Barenboim to the boycott of perfidious foreign agents who are antithetical to facts as well as to the Jewish state.

If Israel is lagging behind Europe in music because of the *occupation*, how does Barenboim explain the fact that Israel is among world leaders in other fields?

Just because he makes music doesnt mean he knows politics!

The oportunist Berneboim makes most Jews want to go to a Mikveh at the very hearing of his name. Idolised by the Germans ad nausea .Just by being a Barenboim lover in Germany can be your clandestine way of venting your Anti-Semitism as the Germans recognize his self hatred and take his cue. This self serving oportunist has found indeed his "spiritual home" Barenboim uber alles" Foul !

after all these years

One can or can't agree with the "political" point of view of Barenboim regarding the relationship between Israel and the Palis, but one MUST recognize that he is a brilliant musical Director and a great piano Performer. I have attended to one of his concerts here in Buenos Aires, and I can tell you that it was magnificent. For sure he is better as a Musician than as a Political person. Shana Tova and Metuka for you all.

Barenboim may be a talented musician but that doesn't make his opinion on Israeli matters any more valuable than that of a cashier or auto mechanic. Artistic talent and intelligence have no linkage. His thinking is that of the discredited left. If massively settling our heartland keeps the likes of Barenboim away, that's fine with us. This land is ours. Period.

complain about israel--he should be picketed instead of ariel--there is no 'occupation' except arabs occupy parts of israel and want more

I am repeating myself, but here is a classic example of Creators cruel sense of humour: to give vast talent with one hand and withold brains with the other. Let's at least say : thank you for the music, we'll find it in our hearts to somehow forgive you, it's not nice to be abusive to a handicaped person....

it is sad to read the very considered words of Maestro Barenboim, to see the efforts he has made for co-existence and the deep and lasting legacy he has created in the world of music and then to read the talkback comments which might as well have been written by a tribe of vulgar illiterates. Maestro Barenboim, it must be heart-breaking to see, after all the sterling work you have done, after all the non-discriminatory steps you have made, to read comments such as "Barenboim sold his soul for Germangold". What intrigues me, is how to respond to the comments made by tiny-minded fascist retards.

pose the greatest danger to Israel. I don't know which emotion i feel towards this idiot is the strongest - anger or pity. I am more Jewish in heart than this fruitloop!!

Having grown up amongst the likes of "Guy" in London I know from whence I speak when I say there are no more phonies in this world than the socalled "elite" Espousing publicly liberal values from their guilded ghettoes but in their private lives they are ten times more little minded and bigoted then 9 out of 10 on the right.Best way is to "catch'em" off guard and record there bigotry preferably when having downed a few sherry's "aahfter" a concert.Barenboim to his credit doesnt even need the booze for spewing his hate he's just a natural.

Last paragraph of response #11. Applies to you too.

I wont judge Barneboim's work as a musician, I am not capacitate for that! What I can judge is Barenboim's sensibility! Whoever can play the music the Nazis played when they burnt our brothers in the gas chambers in front of an audience composed of camp survivors and being perfectly aware of that ( he was perfectly informed) has no sensibility at all as a human! He runs after being in the news and he should be ignored by Israel, no matter what he can do with music, he is a person with no feelings and should be judged like that!

and a passport? We do not need him and his dead "music" or opera. Rock 'n Roll and country blows this old dead "music away.

If the Barenboims of the world ever get past their politically incorrect obsession with the "occupation" we might be able to make some progress. There is much, much more to the Israeli-Arab conflict than the "occupation". But then again, the "Israeli-Arab" conflict is an out-of-date term. It isn't even the "Israeli-Palestinian" conflict anymore, but more like the "Islamic-Western" conflict. Barenboim will conduct the orchestra as the USS Liberal-Left slowly sinks beneath the stormy waters of the real world.

Just who does Barenboim think he is?? His arrogance and feeling of superiorioty as the only one who knows and has all the solutions is simply sickening. I for one can love music WITHOUT Barenboim and his arrogance