WhiteFlag Project is the evolution of the band WhiteFlag

In 1998, three musicians from Gaza in Palestine and three Israeli musicians from Tel Aviv began a musical dialogue. They formed together the band WhiteFlag. Due to the political situation in the Middle East the band's members were rarely able to meet.

WhiteFlag Project is a core group of Arab and Jewish musicians, motivated by the desire to continue this unique musical dialogue and invite other likewise minded musicians from all over the world to help create peace through their music.

WhiteFlag Project is about bringing into the mix the uniqueness of each musician's musical style and as a result the source of their musical sound is an outpouring of all their conflicting emotions. By allowing all the colors of the region into the Mix, they create an innovative & original crossover of "worldrock". Their songs are in Hebrew Arabic & English.

WhiteFlag Project by their very existence has proven that music can open a path to tolerance and compromise, joy and love between all people.

2009: The evolution of 'WhiteFlag' into 'WhiteFlag Project'. First performances in Israel after 8 years.

2008: WhiteFlag Project finished their second CD “TALK”, an extreme remix of “EXILE”.

- A performance at the ‘Creation of Peace’ festival, Kazan, Russia, alongside artists such as Keith Emerson, Tony Levin, Patti Smith, and 30 more bands.

- A performance at the 'Global Peace Festival', Israel.

2006-2007: 'TALK' - An intense remix of the CD 'EXILE'. 'TALK' is the accumulation of 10 years of recordings, remixed and edited and the result is the true representation of the street fusion sound that is WhiteFlag Project. Due to the problems of the band being able to meet, much of the work took place over the internet with data traveling between Gaza, New York, Switzerland and Israel.

2005: WhiteFlag Project were invited to Switzerland as guest of the city of Luzerne, and the Swiss National T.V station SF, commissioned a documentary of the band ‘Playing with your enemy’, released world wide in 2006. - WhiteFlag Project performed at the Montreaux Jazz festival, Switzerland. -WhiteFlag Project finishes their first C.D “EXILE” (Released by Phonagh records-Switzerland) and has a DVD of a live show filmed by the Swiss TV and broadcast live from the K.K.L, Lucerne, Switzerland.

2000-2005: Silence, because of the Intifada.

2000: A performance at the 'Bereshit' Festival, Israel. Last concert in Middle East due to break out of the Intifada: uprising between Israel and Palestine.

1998-2000: WhiteFlag Project formed, outcome of a spontaneous ‘Jam’ between Palestinians and Israelis. Performing on a regular basis throughout Israel.

WHITEFLAG PROJECT - 2009

מארק סמליאן (ישראל) - מפיק מוסיקלי, בס, שירה

مارك سموليان (اسرائيل) - قائد الفرقة, باس, غناء

Born in England, Mark has been working as a professional musician from the age of 16. From a very young age the music of different cultures affected him deeply and has played a major influence on his music.
At age of 16 Mark found himself traveling on a regular basis between England and the Middle East. This exposure to different cultures has found its way into all his music, be it rock'n'roll, jazz, classical or ethnic. With over 30 Albums as a producer some of which went gold and platinum, and 30 years of being a band leader Mark brings a unique understanding to the world of cross-cultural music. Mark is also a socially active individual and as a result was instrumental in creating the WhiteFlag Project band. As someone who has been living in the Middle East for the past 25 years and has 2 young children, creating bridges for communication through the music has become a major part of his musical life.

גני תמיר (ישראל) - שירה וקלידים

جاني تميرسر (اسرائيل) - غناء, كيبورد

From Nahalal in the Jezrael Valley in Israel, Gani is one of Israel's most creative and important vocalists. Moving with ease from jazz to rock and singing in English, Hebrew and Arabic, Gani brings to WhiteFlag Project her unique voice and 30 years of professional experience all over the world. Gani's credits are far too much to list here but we can sum it up by saying that she has worked with every major artist in Israel and othesr from all over the world. Aside from all the above, Gani's unique vocal skills have made her one of the leading voice over artists for film and commercial work in the local market. As a working artist in Israel, Gani could have chosen a safer professional path than performing with WhiteFlag Project. Singing in the band is a statement to the world.

זאהר עבדול ג'ואד (עזה, ניו-יורק) - עוד וכלי מיתר אתניים

Born in Dir El Balach in the Gaza Strip, Zaher plays Oud and Violin. Full of humor and 'street-wiseness' Zaher weaves his melodies thru' all the musical styles that WhiteFlag Project loves to experiment with. Zaher was part of the official Gaza TV and events orchestra and participated in major musical events. Zaher has a degree in special education and has over seven years of practical work in centers for the disabled and mentally impaired in Gaza. Zaher is presently living in the U.S where he is finishing his master's degree in special education and beginning to work in the local music scene…WhiteFlag Project knows that the next time we all meet we will be getting an even 'funkier' Oud player.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, and has been living in Jerusalem since 2006. He directs HEARTBEAT : The Israeli - Palestinian Youth Music Project, which he founded in 2007 under a Fulbright-MTV grant to study the power of music to build understanding and amplify youth voices for change, and works with numerous other peace projects (Seeds of Peace, Sulha Peace Project). Aaron performs with numerous ensembles throughout the United States, Israel and Palestine. His album of his original music, "Have You Heard," was released in 2005 by TwoLight Records. He sings and plays anything with strings. www.heartbeatjerusalem.org / www.myspace.com/aaronshneyer

From a Kibbutz in Israel, milking the cows and practicing guitar, Arale, 23 years old, already has the extraordinary ability to create a special guitar sound for all occasions. Flowing seamlessly from alternative Jazz through rock 'n' roll into the unexplored regions of 'crossover' music, Arale adds a unique guitar colour to WhiteFlag Project. Arale has been a full time member of WhiteFlag Project since accompanying the band on tour in Switzerland in 2005 and has performed with them at both local & international venues; KKL Switzerland, Montreaux Jazz Festival, Creation of Peace Festival, Kazan, Russia. He is also a member of 'Zaviot' an alternative Jazz band featuring Harold Rubin, Mark Smulian and Ruben Hoch. Arale is the sprit of youth and adventurism. Arale is now living and working in New Zealand where he is making a strong impression on the local music scene, but his commitment to WhiteFlag and its music is unconditional; when WhiteFlag performs wherever that may be, Arale will be there

Born in California, percussionist Katja Cooper studied percussion in Amsterdam and pursued her career in Israel where she accompanied for national dance companies, taught, recorded, and performed with leading performing artists regularly on stage and on television. Aside from integrating her heart and skills in the original WhiteFlag band, Katja took part in multi international music projects in Spain, Peru,Turkey, Holland, Switzerland and in the U.S. Currently in the San Francisco East Bay, she teaches at schools - working with children of all ages, accompanies for the UC Berkeley Dance Department, and continues to perform with various music projects and events.

מיכאל אבגיל (ישראל) - תופים

ميخائيل ابجيل (اسرائيل) - درامز

From Israel of Moroccan decent, Michael is one of Israel's most sought after drummers. He started performing professionally at the age of 20 and when he was 23 he moved to New York City in the US. He studied and performed locally and was approached by Yossi Fine (Madonna, David Bowie, Stanley Jordan…) to form a new band called 'Excentric sound system'; a Funk, Dub and Afro-beat band. Michael toured with the Excentrics internationally for a number of years playing all the major venues in the world. He records and performs extensively with Israel's leading artists. Michael is WhiteFlag Projects newest band member.