We are not part of the Arab world and this is of less than of little interest to Israelis. Well done but I am as interested as this as the winner of Cambodia Idol.

"Across Gaza, an impoverished territory ruled by the Islamic militant Hamas, people gathered around TV screens at home, in coffee shops and in seaside cafes ....." "Impoverished?"

I can't describe how happy are the gaza people at this time ...... people are in the streets celebrating and setting off fireworks .... this is the unknown side of the Palestinian people

He was not the best singer, not even that good. Perhaps, he could be an ambassador of peace with Israel and show Palestinians they can have normal lives, free of being run by hatemongers or corrupt thieves.

Arab Idol winner Assaf to be 1st PALESTINIAN UN ambassador. Congratulations!!! And Adam you obviously care or you wouldn't of left a comment. LOL

whether you like it or not, but arabic is an official language in your country and also, millions of arabs are living in your country, they were also born there. you call them israeli arabs and they have the same rights as you. so yes, adam, israel is a part of the arab world and so are you. ;)

It is good to read something positive about a young Arab man from Gaza.He sounds and looks great! And to any or all writers of snide comments;"please give credit where it is due.Politics do not come into it.The young man is talented and deserves to have his success.So try not to be racist or bitchy about this.In other words dont show your extremist right wing true colours!

There is no doubt this young Palestinian has a wonderful voice and I think he really deserved to win ( though his Syrian female competitor could have been the one to win ). I hope he would not be used by rival Palestinian political factions for their own , narrow, selfish self-interest as all of them , HAMAS included, are quite corrupt with a repulsive, foul smell emanating from them . Their rotten corruption could very well destroy this young man's talent...

Assaf deserves winning all the arab world admires this handsome young man he has something strange other than having incredible voice and looks whoever sees him fall in love with him and everyone from everywhere agrees on this I believe he will make big changes in the region Congratulations to Palestinians they deserve to feel happy after all suffering.

nice. now if the Palestianian authorites would but put Israel on the map things might get real

nice to see fireworks for a job well done rather than for killing Israelis.

It was hard to find appreciation in the Israeli press and following talk-backers about Boris Giltburg who won the 2013 piano International Queen Elisabeth Grand Prize competition, a feat which requires respect, like that feat from Mohammed Assaf for winning "Arab Idol".

It should be of your concern. Jews are part of the Arab world. If you were to be peaceful and think beyond your Zionist ideology, you would have been competing in that show like that Kurdish girl from Iraq. I wish peace for all. Salam.

than because you killed Jews.

it's a part of the Arab world. The Jews come originally from this part of the arabian peninsula, I must remind you. Avraham came from Ur Kasdim, in Mesopotamia, he didn't come from Poland.

"Born in Libya" says it all. His family only returned to the Gaza Strip so that they could illegally claim refugee status from UNWRA and get thousands of $ worth of aid over the years.

Weren't born in Israel? Says it all eh?

well, you are very right here. isn;t it better for palestinians to sing rather than kill, hang, send rockets, build suicide belts and terrorize? keep on singing and maybe you'll have a future. but under hamas, you have no future at all no matter how many wonderful singers you send to perform.

adam is mainly refering to israel not part of the arab world in culture, mentality, accomplishments, scientific, technological and medical advances, economy, etc... this is the difference adam is refering to, not the physical geographical location of israel. two entirely different cultures who are entirely alien to one another.

80% of israelis were born in israel.

they are all international beggars no matter where they live around the world. as to their leaders in gaza and ramallah, they are not the beggars, but the corrupt thieves of the beggars' aid funds from europe and the usa.

I agree with you 100% and so it should be. You simply do not have enough on your side to make this happen. Until then, we are not part of you even though we ought to be at least for Abraham's sake. Salam Leila.

Two seasons of Arab Idol and no Israeli contestants and no chance that there ever would be so why would I care? IF and let's pause to contemplate what a massive IF that would be, there were an Israeli contestant and even more of a bigger IF, that he/ she were to win, then I would be the first to congratulate them on here. HOWEVER, Israel is a pariah in the Arab World, a world which lobbies for Israel to be a pariah in the Free World, a world which ironically the Arab World treat with disdain, suspicion and as devilish, to say the least. Therefore, when a member of a country whose official policy for so long is for my country's destruction, in a competition where my country cannot have a citizen take part, why should I, or any Israeli of any religion or race give a toss about a Palestinian or any other winner for that matter?

Afterall there is always the final of the Eurovision Song Contest Hahahahahahahahahahahaha ha

palestinians deserve to feel happy as any other nations ....

This whole matter caught attention of Associated Press because Israel can be mentioned or its presence felt between the lines, like "impoverished" Gaza. The idea is here that despite Israelis - Gazans live on! If the winner were from Jordan - that'd be no news. Pal Arabs are lucky to have Jews as enemies. When Kuwaitis kicked them out - there was total silence in the world.

Israel keeps trying to get into the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. and now that the Semi finals are subject to the public vote will never make the final. The song may be the best but it will never be voted for in the numbers required because Europeans don't like Israel Some would say that is why Israeli politicians are panicking over the BDS thingie

Mbc group is not saudi owned. This month 55% was bought by an indonesian group. Check mbc 1 on wiki.

I just wonder how the Israelis comments are full of poison compared with the Arab comments, actually not just here, but for anywhere.