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Photo: Niv Calderon
Gabso decides to go solo

Gabso to Zilber: Forget about it

In wake of musician's support for an early release for Rabin's assassin, young singer decides to cancel their planned duo at Piano festival

Musician Shai Gabso is not too keen about being associated with people who profess their support for an early release for Yigal Amir. He decided on Tuesday to cancel a scheduled performance with singer Ariel Zilber after the latter appeared in a video advocating an early release for Rabin's assassin.

 

The piano festival will be held in Tel Aviv at the end of the month—Gabso is still set to perform; just without Zilber.

 

"It's his right, this is a democratic country, he has the right to do what he wants," Zilber said in response during a conversation with Ynet. He probably didn't want to be associated with me, because it's infectious.

 

"I don't know what I said that caused such a response, but apparently the right to self-expression is only one-directional and that's a shame. All day my phone keeps ringing and people ask me: 'What did you say, are you crazy? What happened?' People have gone crazy," Zilber continued.

 

"I have never witnessed such brainwashing in my life. It reminds me of the Bolsheviks.

 

"At the end of the day, all I said was that I think (Amir) deserves rights like every other young person, if this is controversial, imagine what state the country is in," the musician said.

 

"A lot of people also called to express their support. A lot more than those who called to curse me."

 

A few days ago, it came to light that Zilber appeared in a video being disseminated as part of a campaign to free Yigal Amir. The artist calls for the assassin to receive the rights that are given, according to him, to other criminals.

 

Consequences of supporting Amir

The Piano Festival is not the only venue that is thinking twice about being associated with Zilber. The Voice of Israel radio station decided not to broadcast a program that featured Zilber, among other interviewees. Other radio stations are also trying to decide how to deal with the musician's controversial opinions.

 

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai discussed Zilber's comments on Israeli Army Radio Tuesday morning:

 

"Because democracy is very important to me and I believe that freedom of expression is very important, I think it is forbidden for me to forbid Ariel Zilber to perform as a singer or artist.

 

"Despite the fact that I believe that he is deserving of contempt and I think his opinions are awful. I would say that he is a pest. In any case, you won't see me at his shows," the mayor added.

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.23.07, 17:16
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