Overview

• Patagarri performed ‘Free Palestine’ using the melody of Hava Nagila during Rome’s May Day concert, sparking widespread backlash.
• Victor Fadlun, president of the Roman Jewish Community, denounced the act as an appropriation of Jewish culture to call for Israel’s destruction.
• Israeli media, including the Times of Israel, labeled the performance antisemitic, describing it as cultural vandalism and normalization of hate.
• The band defended their performance on Instagram, framing it as a humanitarian protest against civilian casualties in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
• The incident has intensified debates over the role of artistic expression in political activism and the boundaries of cultural respect.