In the last couple of years the IDF and various State authorities have launched a battle against artists who did not serve in the army, and numerous performances by such musicians have been cancelled by the IDF, municipalities and government bodies.
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Ahead of Independence Day, which takes place at the end of April, the Union of Local Authorities in Israel has called on local councils across the country not to allow singers who did not serve in the army to participate in public celebrations marking the holiday.
A letter titled, "Independence Day shows? Only if you served in the IDF," was sent to heads of local authorities on Wednesday by Shlomo Bohbot, chairman of the Union of Local Authorities in Israel
and the mayor of Ma'alot-Tarshiha.
Independence Day show (Archive photo: Or Barnea)
In the letter Bohbot writes, "Every year the local authorities make sure to entertain their residents on Israel's Independence Day, and in many authorities stage shows are erected on which Israel's finest artists perform.
"I urge you to contract artists who served in the IDF, and thus to encourage recruitment to the army and denounce the draft-dodging phenomenon."
According to Bohbot: "Giving artists who did not serve in the army the opportunity to perform provides a bad example for the audience."
The chairman also added that in light of the dire financial situation in the country, local authorities should do their best to contract local talents instead of high-priced music stars.
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