Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has entered the controversy surrounding Israeli pop singer Eden Ben Zaken. Following sharp criticism directed at the performer after Netanyahu and his wife Sara attended her recent concert, the prime minister on Sunday addressed calls to boycott her and demands that she be removed from her role as a mentor on Israel's version of "The Voice."
Politics and Entertainment
Netanyahu Defends Eden Ben Zaken
Israeli Prime Minister responds to controversy over his attendance at Ben Zaken's concert, criticizing calls to boycott the singer and remove her from television talent show
Last week, the Netanyahus attended Ben Zaken's performance at Jerusalem's Menorah Arena, where the prime minister was greeted with applause and cheers from the audience. However, images from the evening sparked significant backlash on social media, with much of the criticism directed at the singer herself. Some critics called for boycotting Ben Zaken and even demanded her removal from her position as a mentor on the popular television talent competition.
In a video posted to social media Sunday, Netanyahu was asked whether he had seen the calls to dismiss Ben Zaken. "Tell me, what's going on here? What is this, the thought police?" he responded.
The prime minister drew comparisons to other Israeli artists with different political views. "When Aviv Geffen was on 'The Voice,' did we say he should be fired? We didn't say that. He has his opinions, he's allowed to," Netanyahu said, referring to the left-leaning rock musician who previously served as a mentor on the show.
He cited another example: "When Benny Gantz went and was received at a Shlomo Artzi concert, did we say Shlomo Artzi should be fired? What kind of talk is this?"
Netanyahu attacked the calls against Ben Zaken and made clear that political disagreement should not lead to boycotts. "We argue with people who don't have the same opinions as us, we don't boycott them. We don't boycott them," he stated.
He concluded with a direct message to the singer: "And here you simply have a thought police that accuses us of dividing the nation. So I say to the stunning Eden and to all of you: we have love, and it will prevail."
