(live here) – Another storm in Haifa's cultural life: Mayor Yona Yahav announced today (Sunday, April 27.4.2025, XNUMX) that singer Lina Makhol will no longer appear at events sponsored or organized by the municipality. The announcement comes following a publication by Makhol, in which she stated that Haifa is located in the "State of Palestine," which sparked widespread public outrage and led Yahav to take a firm stance.
Lina Makhol's post causes a stir
Lina Makhol, who won fame on the second season of the reality show "The Voice Israel," announced a new world tour on social media this week. Makhol noted that the first performance would take place in the city of Haifa, but defined its location as "the State of Palestine" – a formulation that caused great shock among residents and politicians.
Following the post, a storm began on social media, with many users calling for the performance to be canceled and even extreme calls to attack the restaurant where the performance took place. In the face of criticism, the municipality was quick to clarify its position.
Mayor Yona Yahav responds strongly
Yona Yahav did not wait long and made a clear and public statement, which directly addressed Makhol: "Lina Makhol, you should internalize: Haifa is a city in the Jewish and democratic State of Israel, and will remain so forever. Nothing, certainly not you, will change that." He added: "Music is meant to connect people, and I regret that you are using your talent to harm coexistence and the country in which you grew up. As long as I am mayor, you will not appear in any municipal setting." Yahav's statement put an end to any possibility of cooperation between Makhol and the municipality and was welcomed by some in the public.
Lina Makhol: An artist who is accompanied by controversy
Lina Makhol is no stranger to this type of controversy. Since winning "The Voice," she has expressed her Palestinian identity many times. Although she was born in the United States and raised in Acre, she has not hidden her feelings and has repeatedly stated her support for the Palestinian narrative. Her latest publications join a series of statements that have previously provoked mixed reactions, and sometimes even widespread anger, from the Israeli public. As part of the new tour, she is also scheduled to perform in major cities in Europe and the United States - New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, and more.
The connection to the recent events in the city of Haifa
Yahav's announcement regarding Makhol came in the shadow of another storm that has taken place in the city in recent days: the cancellation of the performance of singers Subliminal and Tzelle on Independence Day eve in the lower city. The mayor explained that events on Independence Day eve should convey unity and not divide the public.
The cancellation sparked great anger from the artists and their fans. The shadow even threatened legal action, and the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, personally intervened and asked Yona Yahav to meet with the shadow and try to resolve the dispute. A meeting between the parties is expected to take place soon.
In response to Yahav's words, Yoav Eliasi (Hatzel) posted the following response on social media:
"Say, Yona Yahav, don't you have any shame?"
How stupid do you think the public is? Alec "Music is meant to connect people" hahaha – and you boycotted my music just because of my political views, so how does that work out for you?..."
The public and political system's response
The reactions to Yahav's decision were many and varied. Shai Glick, CEO of the "In His Image" association, welcomed the move and said: "This is a Zionist and national decision of the highest order. There is no place in the city of Haifa for anyone who thinks that the city is the northern capital of the State of Palestine."
Glick added that he believes that this decision sets a clear red line and marks the municipality's position towards any artist or performance that chooses to express political positions that contradict the identity of the State of Israel.
Are music and culture in Haifa facing change?
Recent events raise questions about the future of cultural events in Haifa and the line the municipality is taking regarding identity and national unity. Haifa, traditionally considered a city of coexistence between Jews and Arabs, is now facing new challenges when it comes to balancing freedom of expression with upholding the values of the state.
The connection between culture, politics, and public image
Yahav's recent decisions demonstrate the extent to which culture in Israel is not disconnected from political reality. When an artist or cultural figure chooses to identify with a political narrative, it may affect their career in the public sphere and how they are received by the general public and the authorities.
Similar trends in other cities
It's not just Haifa that faces similar questions. In recent years, there have been many cases of cancellations of performances and events due to political positions expressed by artists. Often, these positions have led to calls for boycotts, cancellations, and even legal proceedings.
The current case is another sign that the boundaries between art and politics are blurring and public sensitivity is growing. Artists are required more than ever to think about the consequences of their words and actions, especially when they operate in a public space supported by authorities.
Haifa faces the challenges of maintaining coexistence
Haifa faces a difficult challenge – on the one hand, it seeks to preserve its unique character as a city of multicultural coexistence, and on the other, it is committed to upholding its principles as a city in the State of Israel. In the case of Lina Makhol, the municipality chose not to hold back and set a clear boundary. It is not yet clear whether these steps will affect the social fabric of the city in the long term, but they will certainly affect the city’s cultural policy in the near future.
Is this about "censorship" or preserving values?
Supporters of the municipality's decision see it as a necessary step to protect the values of the state and the city. On the other hand, there are also those who claim that it is an infringement on freedom of expression and the creation of a problematic precedent in which singers and artists will be afraid to express their views. The case of Lina Makhol clearly demonstrates the dilemma facing Israeli society: to what extent should artistic freedom and personal expression be allowed, when they contradict the national identity of the country?
Looking forward to further developments
The public, artists, and authorities are waiting to see what the implications of the affair will be. Will we see more similar decisions in the future? Will artists choose to moderate their words? Or will the reaction lead to a new wave of protest? What is certain is that culture in Israel, and in Haifa in particular, is currently facing a significant test of identity, belonging, and freedom of expression.
Congratulations to Mr. Yona Yahav for his conduct on the issue of the Palestinian woman who will sing in Gaza.
What's the big deal? I don't understand.
She said what most people are probably thinking and afraid to say.
The naive among us are the ones who eat the fake media that hides their true voice and that of their wise men.
And all day long, you wave Yosef Haddad around in the studios as if he represents their opinion, which is about the same as Ofer Kassif represents us.
Lina I have a question where is Palestine who is it. The Prime Minister of Palestine in 1948 who was the President of Palestine you probably don't have an answer because I am such a thing Palestine these all came from Saudi Arabia and a few other countries so instead of singing history students and not fishing in Acre
The screamer from the dance is someone who does not maintain coexistence. She is the singer who wants a massacre of Jews, similar to the mufti who led the Holocaust and the incitement of Hamas supporters around the world right now.
I would ban her from entering Israel and cancel her passport, as well as the passport of anyone who thinks like her that he is erasing Israel from the map. Why let him live in it?
Just cutting a media coupon after all the criticism he received after the story with Subniminal and the Shadow
Of course the response was late.
Yona the Sleepy One responded the day after the performance took place and did not cancel any planned performances.
Tov Yahav should condemn artists no matter how they are. We live in the State of Israel and Haifa is part of it. Congratulations.
If the one-sided immigration from the villages and cities of the north continues and their purchase of apartments (legally, it should be said) even in neighborhoods that were not involved in the first place, will the debate about whether this is Palestine or Israel even be relevant in the next generation?
Mr. Mayor, you got a great headline and likes on Facebook, but if it was really important to you that the city be both Hebrew and democratic in future generations, you would work with the legislature to achieve legislation with broad consensus with all representatives.
Haifa the city has been and always will be involved.
The neighborhoods in Haifa are not supposed to be overwhelmingly involved.
And coexistence means that each side also respects the other and their desire to live with their community.
You would have done just fine in Germany in the 30s.
You're right, there is an occupation.
a question:
Is she a relative of Attorney Makhol from Haifa, who is in prison on espionage charges?
Lina Makhol noted that Haifa is a city in the land of Palestine, and that the name Palestine has been erased and the name in use is now Israel (ISR). And indeed, that is the case. Yona Yahav wants to be perceived as a Zionist patriot and therefore makes a mockery of it.
All the best to Yona Yahav, anyone who tries to divide the city, or divide the unity between Jews and Arabs, should be kicked in the legs and not allowed to reach the city, this is the only city that has remained sane in our country, I hope it continues to be that way
Doing a publicity stunt on behalf of the municipality.
Why didn't she say she was in Canaan?
Even before she was invited, her opinions were known, so why was she invited in the first place?
The saddest thing is that she was invited despite her opinions, while the shadow was canceled because of his opinions…
We are a Jewish state and only then the State of Israel, and so are we as human beings.
And what are you, Yona Yahav? You certainly won't mention that you are Jewish.
Put the keys on the table and go home, there is no place for people like you in power.
You're not really Jewish either.