Hidden Assimilation in Jerusalem: The Subversion Behind the Arts and Festivals

Occupied Jerusalem is being occupied today not only by soldiers or iron bars, but also through various shows, music, and sabotage disguised as "art and culture." The occupying regime is using all its means to transform every inch of the city, every monument, and every ancient landscape. They are using various forms of weapons to destroy the Islamic spirit and millennial history of Jerusalem, replacing it with symbols of Judaism.

This process is slow but steady. For the Muslim Palestinians, it is impossible to hold any events in their homeland, where their umbilical cord blood was shed. Even their intellectual and artistic centers are being closed. And their small gatherings are being forcibly dispersed. But in the meantime, the occupying forces are trying to change the nature of the holy land by filling the streets of Jerusalem with their satanic entertainment and dancing through their "festivals". This process is not only a matter of entertainment parties, but also a cultural occupation aimed at falsifying the true historical and religious spirit of Jerusalem.

Take the Jerusalem International Film Festival, for example: every July, thousands of Jewish settlers gather around Solomon's Pools, turning ancient Islamic monuments into a platform for Jewish propaganda. Did you know that in 2024, during the massacre of Muslims in Gaza, more than 70,000 Jewish settlers were involved in this festival? At the same time, the Israeli Cultural Festival seeks to present Jerusalem as the "capital of its culture" through various dances, rousing concerts, and theatrical performances.

One of the saddest examples is the Festival of Lights: the Old City of Jerusalem, its walls, and the area around the Al-Aqsa Mosque are transformed into laser shows and dance floors. The Damascus Gate, the courtyard of the Umayyad Palace, and Solomon's Cave - all of these, despite being historical monuments, are being turned into centers of noisy spectacles. They install symbols of Judaism in these places - large minarets. And on ancient Muslim cemeteries, parties are organized with a lot of alcohol.

The Autofood Festival, held in the southern areas of Al-Aqsa Mosque, features food, concerts, and activities for children.

These events are not unique to Jerusalem. They are also being tested in other Muslim countries. For example, when you observe the "international festivals" held in the capitals of various Muslim countries, you will witness this situation. In countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco, festivals and concerts are also held around historic mosques and madrasas. Although this situation may seem like "cultural development" at first glance, in reality it is a strategy to turn away from Islam, to eliminate its influence, and to devalue our religion.

Israel is not hiding its plans. In 2022, 100 million shekels (over $29 million) have been allocated to transform Solomon's Pools into "the most beautiful concert and nightlife center in Israel." A theater, cafe, park, and artificial swimming pools have been built here. The goal is to attract tourists and Jewish settlers to these areas, to strengthen their presence. In this way, symbols, monuments, and pseudo-historical inscriptions specific to Judaism are being replaced with Islamic heritage.

This concept of "occupation through culture" consists of several stages: first appropriating the territorial heritage, then creating a Jewish history there, and finally, re-identifying the area internationally. They are using this as a tool for both internal propaganda and external image (for tourists and the West). It is sad that the Muslim world is watching this process as a spectator.

This occupation appears to be carried out through seemingly "decorative" means such as culture, art, food, and festivals. But the consequences of this negligence are clear: the extinction of the Islamic spirit of Jerusalem is a great defeat for the entire Islamic world. Behind such attractive events lies a policy of cultural occupation of Jerusalem, erasing its history, and Judaizing Palestine.