Sunday, February 02, 2014

Politics in the Israeli Entertainment Industry

ג' לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ד

YNET: Israeli singer Achinoam Nini rejects composers' organization award
Ran Boker, January 30, 2014

Israeli singer Achinoam Nini refused to accept an award by ACUM (a non-profit corporation administering the rights of authors, composers, lyricists, poets, arrangers and music publishers) due to the organization's decision to honor singer Ariel Zilber with an award as well.

Nini wrote on her personal facebook page: "I wanted to announce that I have cancelled my participation in the Akum Prize Award Ceremony due to ideological reasons. I also asked that no one accept the award on my behalf."


Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Well, this will most likely not be the last time that politics sneaks its head into the Israeli entertainment industry.

I wonder what issues Ahinoam Nini could have with Ariel Zilber.

Ariel Zilber
Before and After
Could it be that in תשס"ה/2005, he moved to Azza (Gaza/Gush Qatif) to show support for the Jews the Israeli Government was getting ready to kick out of their homes, and off of their lands, and eventually did?

Could it be the concerts he gave right next to the Israeli Army [IDF] planning to kick those Jews out of their homes?
Could it be that in תשס"ו/2006, he supported Baruch Marzel (National Jewish Front) for K'nesseth?

Could it be that in תשס"ט/2009, he supported Micha'el Ben-Ari and Aryeh Eldad (Our Israel-National Union) for K'nesseth?

Could it be that in תש"ע/2010, Zilber sang at the the Memorial for R' Binymain and Talia Kahane hy"d, 10 years after they were killed.

Could it be that Ariel Zilber has become Torah observant?

Personally, I do not know how any of the above have anything to do whether Ariel Zilber deserves to receive an award for achievement in music or not. Even if all of the above experiences had a part in inspiring him, I still don't see the connection.

Apparently, neither did ACUM, the organization honoring Ariel Zilber with the award.

3 comments:

Eitan said...

I also posted about this, although in much less detail and without my own opinion since I know little about Zilber besides the basic facts.

Esser Agaroth said...

Thanks for mentioning that, Eitan.

You posted a more updated version of the story, in which the award was withdrawn from Ariel Zilber, and Liberman's subsequent condemnation of the action.

Eitan said...

Yeah, exactly. It was a press release. I listened to some of his earlier songs yesterday. Great stuff. He's a genius.