American comedian Dave Chappelle said a 害羞草研究所済enocide害羞草研究所� is striking the Gaza Strip amid the Israel-Hamas war to cheers during his performance in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, while urging Americans to fight anti-Semitism so Jews don害羞草研究所檛 feel like they need to be protected by Israel.
Chappelle害羞草研究所檚 comments come as Abu Dhabi has maintained its diplomatic relations with Israel even as it has increasingly criticized its conduct in the seven-month war.
Meanwhile, while pro-Palestinian marches have swept across the wider Middle East since the war began, protests and speech remains tightly restricted in the Emirates, a federation of seven sheikdoms on the Arabian Peninsula.
Even before coming on stage, the full crowd at Abu Dhabi害羞草研究所檚 Etihad Arena cheered as DJ Trauma, who accompanied Chappelle on the trip, played the song 害羞草研究所淢y Blood is Palestinian害羞草研究所� by the Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf. The thousands there agreed to place their switched-off mobile phones in locked pouches for the performance 害羞草研究所� a standard feature of Chappelle害羞草研究所檚 shows.
About halfway through in a wide-ranging comedy set in Abu Dhabi, Chappelle, a Muslim, initially said he had been told by his friends either to discuss the war or not. From the audience, a woman screamed: 害羞草研究所淔ree Palestine!害羞草研究所� The crowd cheered.
Chappelle then said the Gaza Strip faces a 害羞草研究所済enocide.害羞草研究所� He also said that making Jews safer in America amid rising cases of antisemitism would make them realize they don害羞草研究所檛 need Israel as an ultimate protector.
Another moment also displayed just how diverse the crowd was in the Abu Dhabi. In telling another joke about how Jews cheer while drinking, Chappelle said 害羞草研究所渓害羞草研究所檆haim,害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所渢o life害羞草研究所� in Hebrew, which another man shouted back from the audience.
But when touching on the upcoming U.S. election, Chappelle害羞草研究所檚 mention of President Joe Biden 害羞草研究所� who has promised 害羞草研究所渋ronclad害羞草研究所� support for Israel 害羞草研究所� drew widespread boos throughout the arena. Donald Trump drew scattered cheers.
Chappelle, as other artists during the performance, told some racy jokes and swore. But they largely avoided discussing local politics 害羞草研究所� though Chappelle did make a sly joke about the UAE害羞草研究所檚 widespread surveillance network and another deadpanning about 害羞草研究所渉ow difficult is it to be gay害羞草研究所� in the country as homosexuality is illegal.
But he also came out on stage with a falcon on his arm 害羞草研究所� a symbol for the UAE.
Chappelle, 50, won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2019. He performed at the Abu Dhabi Comedy Week.
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Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
