While musicians worldwide are boycotting Israel, American rapper Azealia Banks, who once declared “I’m a Zionist,” is expected to arrive in the country soon. During her visit, Banks plans to tour the Nova music festival memorial site, meet with members of the elite Duvdevan Unit, and perform at least twice, seven years after vowing “never to return” due to negative and allegedly racist experiences during her last visit in 2018.
American rapper Azealia Banks is set to land in Israel this coming weekend (Saturday) for a visit lasting several weeks. Banks, who has become one of Israel’s most outspoken supporters on the international stage, announced her trip in a characteristically bold series of posts on X, formerly Twitter.
"Okay, so listen… The Jewcy Diva is touching down in ISRAEL on October 4th —I’m coming back to get a real experience without the drama and the bs.. October 7th will be a day of deep remembrance — honoring every life taken, every family touched. I’m going to be THERE, present, spiritual….Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Nova Festival site, The Jabotinsky Institute and alllll… And yes, I’m linking with fans, friends, and my IDF heroes from Duvdevan and doing a show so it will be funnn!!! I’m ready to connect, vibe, love, remember, and CELEBRATE the LIFE & LOVE of the place. See You In Tel Aviv
When Banks now promises “no drama,” she’s referring primarily to the storm of social media posts that followed her previous visit. In 2018, she performed at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club, but shortly afterward launched into an online outburst about what she described as racist and traumatic experiences in the country.
“I will never ever ever ever ever go to Israel again. I love my fans but y’all gonna have to fly out to come see me because y’all country is nuts", she tweeted back then.
Banks said she was held up at Ben-Gurion International Airport, that a rabbi offered her money for sex, she was shouted at by a fellow airline passenger using racial slurs and that she was mistreated by various service providers in Tel Aviv.
Despite this, even then she made a point of separating her fans from the general public and defended her decision to perform in Israel in the face of boycott calls.
Since then, her stance has shifted sharply. In recent months, she declared “I’m a Zionist” and filled her social media feeds with dozens of pro-Israel posts.
Among other remarks, she wrote, “No black person should be supporting Palestine", and, “Israel IS racist as hell" … but "I would totally go back and perform for my fans because now — in maturity, I’m able to discern and understand that my fans shouldn’t be punished nor should they deal with acts of protest — due to s–t they have no control over,” she continued.
Banks has drawn parallels between Zionism and hip-hop, arguing that both emerged from marginalized communities’ visions of survival.
Banks also revealed that she lost hundreds of thousands of dollars this year after refusing to say “Free Palestine” at European music festivals.
Banks said she was pressured to "sign on to slogans" before taking the stage, but she chose to forgo the money rather than compromise her beliefs. “You don’t tell a black woman from New York City what to do. You just don’t fucking do it,” she said
During her upcoming stay in Israel, Banks plans to perform at least twice, once for an LGBTQ audience and once for IDF soldiers. In between, she says she intends to explore Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, visit the Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, the Nova music festival memorial site, and the Jabotinsky Institute, and meet with Israeli politicians and artists.
In another post about her planned visit, which is being organized by Israeli-American publicist Ronn Torossian, Banks wrote:
"With all do (due) respect - Israelis really DO NOT understand how hot it is in these streets. You guys should keep Netanyahu at least until 2030… I’m coming to Tel Aviv …, I’ll arrange a little tea party somewhere for the Israeli Kunts and we can discuss…. That would be relaxing right?? Get a space and some beanbag chairs, preview some music and just Kiki and drink cheapy tea??"
In another tweet about the Israeli prime minister, she wrote:
I like Netanyahu WAAAY more than Trump. Netanyahu is not running around worried about trannies in the bathroom or chastising Taylor swift or talking shit. His interests are Israel, Israelis and the Jewish people. Period. He’s not tweeting crazy stuff or saying off kilter things about world leaders. He’s alot more effective , professional and respectable than Donald Trump tbh Trump is fat with girdles and makeup on. Bibi hardly ever has makeup on and I APPRECIATE the MASCULINITY goddammit."
Banks added that she hopes to meet with Culture Minister Miki Zohar and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli. To her left-leaning Israeli fans, she wrote: "Left wing Israelis are super idealistic and that’s good and necessary- for cultures sake but I don’t think they really understand just HOW COMPLEX anti-semitism is outside of the Levant … Israelis should vote Netanyahu 2026"