Infected Mushroom's Stance: Supporting Israel Or Not?

The Israeli musical duo Infected Mushroom, formed in Haifa in 1996, has been accused of supporting Israel's military actions in Palestine and promoting Zionist messaging through their work. The band has been criticized for their participation in fundraisers for charities with Zionist ideologies and for releasing a song dedicated to Israeli victims of the Supernova music festival massacre while remaining silent on Palestinian civilian casualties. While the band has stated that they are not political, they have affirmed their support for Israel and their role as diplomats for the country. They have also expressed solidarity with Israel through their music and live performances, with an average of 120 shows per year.

Infected Mushroom is an Israeli duo

Infected Mushroom is known for their energetic live performances, completing around 120 shows annually, including performances at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, the Virgin Festival in Baltimore, OMIX in Mexico, Coachella in California, Ipanema Beach in Brazil, and the Metro Club in Melbourne. They have also played at the Burning Man Festival in Nevada multiple times. The duo has been ranked among the world's "10 Best DJs" by readers of the U.K.'s DJ Magazine.

Infected Mushroom has expressed their support for Israel and their solidarity with the Israeli people. They consider themselves "diplomats for Israel" and aim to showcase a side of Israel that they feel has been overlooked. They have stated that they are "not political" but are open about their Israeli identity. However, they have faced criticism and accusations of promoting Zionist messaging and supporting charities tied to the Israeli Defense Forces.

Infected Mushroom continues to be active in the music industry, releasing new albums and singles. They have collaborated with various artists and are known for their experimental and innovative approach to music, blending different musical styles and instruments.

They have been accused of supporting Zionism

Infected Mushroom, an Israeli psychedelic trance band, has faced accusations of supporting Zionism due to their association with Israel and their public statements. The band, formed in the late 1990s in Haifa, Israel, has achieved global success and is considered a pioneer in the psytrance genre. However, their connection to Israel and its controversial policies has led to allegations of Zionist sympathies. The debate surrounding Infected Mushroom and Zionism is complex and multifaceted. While the band has never explicitly stated their political views or openly supported Zionist ideology, their actions and comments have been interpreted as suggestive of their stance.

One of the main reasons for the accusations is the band's association with Israel. All the band members are Israeli citizens, and they began their musical journey in Israel. They have performed at events and festivals in Israel and have collaborated with other Israeli artists. While this alone does not indicate their political stance, some people interpret their success and association with Israel as a form of support for the country and its policies. Additionally, Infected Mushroom has made statements that have been perceived as defensive of Israel. In interviews and public appearances, they have expressed pride in their Israeli heritage and have spoken positively about the country's electronic music scene.

While these statements might seem apolitical on the surface, they have been interpreted by some as a tacit endorsement of Israel and its actions, including its occupation of Palestinian territories and the systemic oppression of the Palestinian people. Another factor contributing to the accusations is the band's silence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Infected Mushroom has never publicly criticized Israel's policies or expressed support for Palestinian rights. Their silence on these issues has been viewed by some as indicative of their support for Zionism and Israel's ongoing occupation.

The debate surrounding Infected Mushroom and Zionism has led to controversy and divided opinions among their fans and the electronic music community. While some fans continue to support the band, others have expressed disappointment and have called for them to take a stand against Israeli policies and occupation. The discussion highlights the complex intersection of art, politics, and personal beliefs, and it remains a contentious issue that continues to spark debates and discussions within the electronic music world and beyond.

They have denied being political

Despite facing accusations of supporting Israel and its military actions, Infected Mushroom has denied being political. The Israeli duo, composed of Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani, stated that they are "not political and don't get into that part of it."

Infected Mushroom is an electronic and psychedelic trance music duo formed in Haifa, Israel, in 1996. They are one of the best-selling groups in Israeli music history, with numerous popular albums and collaborations to their name. They have performed at various high-profile festivals and shows worldwide, including in the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia.

However, their Israeli origins and support for their country have sparked controversy. Some critics accuse them of pushing Zionist messaging and supporting charities tied to the Israeli Defense Forces. They also point to the duo's participation in a fundraiser for two charities with alleged Zionist ideology: the Tel Aviv Foundation and the Tribe of Nova. Additionally, Infected Mushroom released a song dedicated to the victims of the Supernova music festival massacre, which some interpreted as a reference to supporting Israeli territorial claims and ignoring the deaths of Palestinian civilians.

In response to these criticisms, Infected Mushroom has denied being political. In an interview, Duvdevani asserted that while they support Israel and feel like diplomats for their country, they do not engage in political stances. He stated, "We're not political and don't get into that part of it, but we never hide the fact we're Israeli."

Despite their denial of political affiliation, Infected Mushroom's actions and statements have led to perceptions of their support for Israel and its military. After Israel's retaliatory attacks in Gaza, the duo reiterated their support for peace and claimed they did not proactively support the war. They also performed in an event in Israel to show their solidarity after the October 7 attacks.

While Infected Mushroom maintains its apolitical stance, the interpretation of their actions and statements has sparked ongoing discussions and varied reactions from fans and critics alike.

They have supported charities with Zionist ideology

The electronic music duo Infected Mushroom has been accused of supporting charities with Zionist ideology. The Maltese NGO Graffitti claimed that the group participated in a fundraiser that supported two charities—the Tel Aviv Foundation and the Tribe of Nova—which were "deemed to have Zionist ideology".

Infected Mushroom is an Israeli group, formed in Haifa in 1996 by producers Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani. They have been labelled as "Zionist scum" by some, who have called for a boycott of their music. The group has been accused of valuing Israeli lives over Palestinian ones, and of implicitly endorsing the annexation of Gaza. They have also been criticised for releasing a song dedicated to the victims of the Supernova music festival massacre, which included Israeli settlers but made no mention of murdered Palestinian civilians.

In response to these accusations, Infected Mushroom has stated that they are "not political" and that they "support Israel whenever [they] can". Duvdevani has asserted that, despite having relocated to Los Angeles, he and Eisen are "still 100 percent Israeli" and feel like they are "presenting to the world a side of Israel that's been overlooked".

While the group has not explicitly denied the allegations of supporting Zionist charities, they have emphasised their commitment to peace. After Israel's retaliatory attacks in Gaza, the organisers of Earth Garden—an event that Infected Mushroom was scheduled to perform at—released a statement saying that the group had "not pro-actively supported the war". They also emphasised that they did not condone the actions of Israel's leaders and that Infected Mushroom was supporting peace.

They have performed at pro-Israel events

Infected Mushroom is an Israeli musical duo formed in Haifa in 1996. The duo, made up of Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani, produce and perform psytrance, electronica, dream trance, and psychedelic music. They are one of the best-selling groups in Israeli music history in terms of both domestic and international sales.

Infected Mushroom has been accused of supporting Israel's actions in Palestine. They have been labelled as "Zionist scum" by some, who claim that they have blatantly pushed Zionist messaging and supported charities that promote the Israeli Defense Forces as they pillaged and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. The duo has also been criticised for performing at a Hanukkah trance extravaganza in Jerusalem and for releasing a song dedicated to the victims of the Supernova music festival massacre, without acknowledging the Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict.

In response to these criticisms, Infected Mushroom has stated that they are "not political and don't get into that part of it, but we never hide the fact we're Israeli". They consider themselves "definitely diplomats for Israel" and assert that they "support Israel whenever [they] can". Duvdevani has also stated that, despite relocating to Los Angeles, he and Eisen are "still 100 percent Israeli".

Infected Mushroom has performed at events that could be considered pro-Israel. For example, they have played at a Hanukkah trance extravaganza in Jerusalem and released a song dedicated to the victims of the Supernova music festival massacre, which was criticised for only acknowledging the Israeli victims and not the Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict. They have also performed at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, the Virgin Festival in Baltimore, Mexico's OMIX, California's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Brazil's Ipanema Beach, Melbourne's Metro Club, and the Burning Man Festivals in Black Rock City, Nevada. These performances have helped to cement their reputation as one of the most celebrated practitioners in the world of psychedelic trance music.

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