"We are meeting at the New York Theatre Workshop at 6PM to hold each others' hands," says a friend. That's 79 East 4th St. Please say a prayer for Juliano for me too, that's where I met the handsome charismatic darer.
Statement from the Jenin Freedom Theatre friends:
The board members of The Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre are shocked and saddened to learn of the murder of Juliano Mer Khamis, director of The Freedom Theater, in Jenin.
Juliano, who never wavered in his opposition to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, devoted and ultimately gave his life to the Palestinian people. He followed in the footsteps of his mother, Arna Mer who had established The Learning Project to help the children of the Jenin refugee camp deal with the trauma and brutality of Israel's response to the first Palestinian intifada.
In co-founding The Freedom Theatre with Zakaria Zubeidi, Juliano put art and culture in the service of resistance to Israel's occupation of Palestine. Since it opened its doors in 2006, The Freedom Theatre has brought theater productions, filmmaking, cinema, drama therapy, acting instruction, creative writing, photography instruction and much more to the Jenin refugee camp.
Founded on little more than a shoestring and a belief in the urgency of cultural resistance to occupation, The Freedom Theatre has attracted major support from supporters in Europe, the US, the Gulf States, and the United Nations.
Juliano was the artistic vision and inspiration of The Freedom Theatre. His murder, by an unidentified man, is both a tragedy and a reminder of the urgent need for unity in the struggle for freedom. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Juliano's wife and children, and to his partners and students at The Freedom Theater. We are steadfast in our support of its important work.
RIP Juliano
this is so tragic
I agree. So sad. And why? Why?
Juliano Mer Khamis was invested in making the lives of others more hopeful and cheerful. Anyone who has worked with children is surely familiar with the appreciation they have for whomever brightens their day — even a little — or gives them strength and hope for a better future.
Juliano’s loss will be felt by many. Whoever committed this senseless act has destroyed the lives of many. And Juliano’s wife is reportedly pregnant with twins.
It is sad to see you go.
And Juliano’s wife is reportedly pregnant with twins.
Oh. God.
No mention of the fact here that Mer Khamis was almost certainly gunned down by Arab religious extremists because he was Jewish. And he was aware of the threat. His theatre had been firebombed by Palestinian extremists and he had received many threats. From an article on his murder today on Ynet.
“Residents of the refugee camp disseminated fliers in 2009 calling the actor a fifth column. “If words don’t help we will have to speak in bullets,” the fliers said.
The theater, which became one of the city’s main culture centers since its establishment five years ago, has sustained many firebomb attacks. In April of 2009 the theater’s door was torched.
‘Never been as Jewish as I am in Jenin’
In an interview with Ynet that year, Mer-Khamis said he feared for his life. “But what choice do I have? To run? I am not a fleeing man,” he said.
“I am an elite force man, formerly of the paratroopers. The only two things I gained from Israeli culture are Shlonsky’s translations of Shakespeare and adequate field training. Now I need it.”
However, the actor added, he was taking precautions. Of those behind the fliers he said, “It makes them crazy that a man who is half-Jewish is at the head of one of the most important projects in the Palestinian West Bank and it is just hypocritical racism.”
“I have never been as Jewish as I am right now in Jenin. After all this work at the camp it would be extremely unfortunate to die of a Palestinian bullet,” he added in a moment of clairvoyance.”
What a remarkable, peaceful and loving individual. Lit a candle at 6 p.m. for Juliano, his family and friends.
May the person who committed this crime be caught and punished