Left-Wing Activist Sparks Outrage by Comparing Singer Eden Ben Zaken to Kidnapped Victim Eden Yerushalmi

The controversy over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attendance at a concert by popular Israeli singer Eden Ben Zaken has escalated, with left-wing activist Ami Dror drawing a highly criticized comparison between Ben Zaken and Eden Yerushalmi, a woman who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas during the October 7 attack. Dror posted a side-by-side photo of the two women on social media, stating, "We will not forget Eden Yerushalmi! We will not forgive Eden Ben Zaken!" This sparked a furious response from Yerushalmi's family, who condemned the use of her name and tragic death for political attacks, calling it a "shameful exploitation" and emphasizing that "Eden Yerushalmi is not a slogan or a tool for political bashing."

Yerushalmi's family posted a statement on Instagram highlighting their pain and the ongoing trauma since her murder, urging the removal of such posts and stressing that she was a unifying figure, not a political symbol. The incident follows Netanyahu's attendance at Ben Zaken's concert at Menora Mivtachim Arena last Thursday, which quickly became a political flashpoint. Dror criticized the event as a disguised election campaign, mocking claims that Netanyahu's appearance was spontaneous and accusing Ben Zaken of turning her paid concert into a political event.

Dror called on Ben Zaken's fans to file small claims lawsuits against her, alleging consumer deception for not disclosing Netanyahu's presence beforehand. He urged his followers to spread this initiative, framing it as a simple way to protest what he described as an unwanted political event disguised as a musical performance. The episode reflects the intense polarization surrounding Netanyahu's public appearances and the backlash faced by artists associated with him.