The political right swiftly turned singer Ariel Zilber into an innocent victim of left-wing persecution, arguing that they deprived him at the very last moment of a lifetime achievement award. However, they ignored the problem of bestowing such a prize on someone who claims that homosexuality is a perversion, or that Israel Defense Forces soldiers during the Disengagement Plan from the Gaza Strip seemed to him like Nazis. This swift turn of the right is actually just demagogy, intended to achieve political gain.
The facts are simple: Zilber, 70, is a much-esteemed and prolific Israeli singer-songwriter and composer. Several weeks ago, ACUM (Union of Composers, Writers and Publishers in Israeli Music) decided to grant Zilber the lifetime achievement award. The prize committee — of which left-wing singer Aviv Geffen is also a member — explained that “Zilber has clearly redefined the mainstream by bringing the fringes closer to the center. His stage presence is charismatic and his songs are still relevant and influential today, as they radiate artistic truth, authenticity, honesty and tremendous talent.”
