Renowned Israeli Songwriter Yossi Gispan Breaks Silence on Politics and Personal Life

After years of relative public absence, acclaimed Israeli songwriter Yossi Gispan has granted an interview to i24NEWS, revealing deeply personal struggles and strong political views. Gispan, who has penned lyrics for 80 Israeli artists, declared himself a supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a "genius" who manages the country best. He identified as a "man of freedom" following in the path of Menachem Begin and criticized left-wing critics, recalling their past assurances of Gaza border security and shared memorial evenings.

Gispan also spoke about his past support for the left-wing Meretz party, admitting he was "stupid" to do so, and rejected derogatory terms used against right-wing supporters. He voiced strong criticism of perceived bias in Israel's cultural industry, arguing that left-leaning artists receive state recognition and Ophir Awards, while popular music artists are limited to ACUM awards based solely on airplay. He expressed outrage over films he believes slander IDF soldiers, calling such directorial actions "betrayal."

When asked if he would score such a film, Gispan firmly refused. He stated he is unafraid of boycotts or radio stations ceasing to play his songs due to his political opinions, asserting, "If they don't want to play the songs, don't play, they aren't doing anyone a favor."

Beyond politics, Gispan shared painful childhood experiences, including being steered towards manual labor in school and being called a "parasite" by a teacher, which led him to leave formal education. He developed a "thick skin" from his subsequent trade as an upholsterer. He recalled writing the hit song "Shema Yisrael" (When the Heart Cries) in just two minutes, inspired by anger and tears while watching live television coverage of the Ramla lynching.

Gispan concluded his remarks with a call for national unity, urging Israelis to reconcile with themselves and to identify and remove "wicked people" harming the country's cohesion.