Top singer Ivri Lider was invited to appear at the Friends of the IDF concert, along with Eyal Golan, Synergia and other artists. Over 10,000 soldiers and volunteers are scheduled to attend the show, Sunday evening, including the chief of staff and the defense minister.
Ivry Lider
Over the weekend, however, the IDF demanded that Lider's performance be cancelled because he did not serve in the army. Lider's spokeswoman, Roni Arditi, said that Lider enlisted in the IDF but was released after a month due to medical reasons.
The army, said Arditi, would allow Lider to perform if he signted a letter saying: "Ivry Lider loves the IDF and respects its values." Lider refused to do so.
Arditi also said, "Ivry Lider was enlisted to the army and was released by the army for medical reasons, according to the law. For the past 10 years, Lider has voluntarily performed in front of soldiers. There is no place for such a thing (the IDF's letter) in a democracy."
An IDF spokesperson said in response that the "IDF only allows artists who served in the army to perform in front of soldiers."
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