Barenboim pledges award to Palestinians

Conductor Daniel Barenboim pledged Thursday to help Palestinian youngsters learn classical music, while backing the Palestinians’ demand for a state of their own.

Barenboim, who was born in Argentina and raised in Israel, is to receive the Wolf Prize, for “achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among peoples,” in a ceremony at the Israeli parliament Sunday. He has said he would contribute the $100,000 award to a Palestinian music conservatory in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Barenboim said the study of music must not be confined to places where there is peace and prosperity. “It is what human beings need first of all,” he said.

Though declaring “I am not a politician,” Barenboim said the Palestinians have the right to their own state, just as Jews do in Israel.

In 2001, Barenboim defied an informal Israeli ban on public performances of the works of German composer Richard Wagner, Hitler’s favorite composer.

Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat had demanded that the Wolf Prize committee cancel the award unless Barenboim apologized. She accepted his statement that he hadn’t intended to hurt anyone.