Bieber-mania storms Israel

Seven producers compete to see who can bring teen idol Justin Bieber to Israel next summer. For anyone wondering whether he does bar-mitzvahs – he does. For $1 million

Raz Shechnik|Published: 10.06.10 , 14:16

The 16-year-old teen pop idol who has taken the charts in the US is slated to perform in Israel next summer, according to reports of talks being held between Bieber's agents and producers in Israel.

Bieber, born in Canada, shot into the music industry at the tender age of 12 after his mother uploaded a video of her son performing cover songs to YouTube. Last year, the young pop star came out with his first album, which has won worldwide acclaim.

Bieber's Jewish manager, Scooter Braun, recently gave an interview to Yedioth Ahronoth in which he promised that the young heartthrob will perform in Israel. Now it seems that the promise will indeed be upheld. No less than seven managers are vying for the privilege of bringing Bieber to perform before an audience of Israel fans next summer, or perhaps even earlier in April.

The cost of bringing Bieber to Israel is estimated at $1.5 million at least, of which between $600,000 and $800,000 will go to the star himself.

Businessman Kobi Sidi proposed the idea of holding a "peace concert" in Yarkon Park to an audience of 60,000, including President Shimon Peres. Another proposal suggested two back-to-back performances in Yarkon Park, similar to what Madonna did in the summer of 2009.

Regardless of any plans for an upcoming concert, Bieber recently accepted an offer to perform in Israel at a private event held by a French millionaire. Not long ago, the singer performed at a bar-mitzvah in the US for $1 million.

As was reported recently in Yedioth Ahronoth, talks are also being conducted in a bid to bring Jewish legend and singer Barbra Streisand to Israel for a concert slated to be held in the summer of 2011 on condition that she doesn't cancel her plans for a European concert tour.

Adi Gold contributed to this report