While the crisis in Israel and Gaza is horrific and shocking, the conflict in the region is nothing new. Over 20 years ago, the Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim addressed the strife between Israelis and Arabs in the best way he could: through music. He joined with Palestinian activist Edward Said to form the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, an ensemble made up of students from all over the Middle East, in an attempt to create colleagues among people who had only interacted with one another "through a prism of war."
Daniel Barenboim has responded to the most recent events in this article, arguing that "Events in Israel and Gaza have deeply shocked us all. There is no justification for Hamas’s barbaric terrorist acts against civilians, including children and babies. We must acknowledge this, and pause" and that now "our message of peace must be louder than ever."
Here's a recording of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performing Ludwig Van Beethoven's 9th Symphony in 2020:
