Amir Benayoun is one of Israel’s most famous Mizrahi pop stars. The closest thing to him here might be Ted Nugent, if Nugent had remained popular and sang songs calling Pres. Obama Hitler and wishing for his death. For that’s what Benayoun, a darling of the political far-right, has done. He wrote a new song about Pres. Obama. It’s an […]
After Gaza War, One-Third of Israelis Consider Emigrating
Israel’s Channel 2 published a poll which found that in the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge, one-third of Israelis are considering emigration. 56% would not emigrate were they given the opportunity. Unlike in the past, only 36% would think badly of anyone who did emigrate. In some ways, this is nothing new. The great national […]
Pete Seeger’s Evolution on Israel
Last night, in my appreciation of Pete Seeger I wrote about the Weavers mega-hit, Tzenah. I noted the fullsome praise of the new Zionist nation that characterized its lyrics. I also noted that, at the time, neither Seeger nor many others outside the Arab world understood the deep injustice that had been done to the […]
Idan Raichel, Israeli World Music Star, Endorses Torture, Rape of Arab Prisoners
Ben White writes that Idan Raichel, one of Israel’s biggest pop stars and a celebrity in the world music pantheon, has publicly embraced (Hebrew) former IDF torturer Doron Zahavi. Zahavi is the former IDF interrogator accused of raping Lebanese prisoner Mustafa Dirani, while seeking intelligence about the location of Israel’s captured pilot, Ron Arad. Despite […]
