Israeli Artists Release Unity Song After October 7 Losses

A chance encounter at a birthday party in Jerusalem led to the creation of the new song "If You Are With Me, Who Can Stand Against Us?" by Israeli artists Noam Yaakobson and Subliminal (Kobi Shimoni). The two creators discussed their collaboration on Channel 7, emphasizing a message of unity during a period of heightened political division ahead of elections.

Subliminal stated that the song aims to highlight the connections forged in Israeli society since the October 7th Hamas attack, contrasting it with the divisive rhetoric surrounding the upcoming elections. He noted that his performances for soldiers reveal a strong sense of unity among individuals from diverse backgrounds, reinforcing his belief that Israelis must stand together despite differing opinions.

For Yaakobson, the call for unity is deeply personal, stemming from the loss of his nephew, Sergeant Major Hillel Sadoun, who fell in combat on October 7th, as well as the deaths of close friends, including Elhanan Kalmanzon. Yaakobson explained that Kalmanzon's death underscored for him the importance of focusing on national unity.

The song's initial concept was developed by Yaakobson and creator Elanatan Shalom. The opportunity to collaborate with Subliminal arose unexpectedly when they met at a birthday party for Chaim Elhanan in Jerusalem. Although Subliminal was initially hesitant to work with pre-written material, he was moved by the song's message during his drive back to Tel Aviv and agreed to participate.

Both artists stressed that unity does not require agreement on all issues but rather mutual respect and the ability to coexist despite political disagreements. Subliminal cited the incident on a Flydubai flight as an example of Israelis uniting in the face of danger, where political differences became irrelevant when lives were at stake, calling their collective response a "clear miracle."