The Jewish maestro is a well-known critic of Israeli policy. In 1999, Barenhoim co-founded a music education project in the Palestinian territories with Edward Said.
The performance can be read as the latest attempt by a well-meaning South American country to nudge the issue of Palestinian independence to the fore. However, that prickly faction that currently governs Gaza will diminish the dividend paid out by the performance. Two days ago, Hamas lamented the fall of Osama Bin Laden, the “Holy Arab warrior.” Sadly for the Palestinian people, Hamas is the poisoned thorn of statehood.