The Hollywood celebrity had arrived in the country last week as a guest of honor for Tel Aviv's Pride parade but found herself caught in the security escalation following Israel's military operations against Iran.
The songwriter and producer's creative genius culminated in the groundbreaking album "Pet Sounds", which music critics widely regard as rock's first concept album.
Beloved comedian removes controversial 40-second clip following backlash over "mocking tone" toward October 7 attack
The Simon and Garfunkel singer performed Thursday evening at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, marking the first visit by a major international artist to Israel since the war erupted.
"If there weren't brave people like you – I wouldn't be here, and neither would my mother," Gene Simmons told Harold "Hal" Urban, who participated in liberating Mauthausen in May 1945.
"It's deeply disappointing to witness Israel, which secured second place in Eurovision this year, being deliberately excluded from this post. This contradicts the spirit of fairness and unity that the slogan 'United by Music' purports to embody," an angry fan wrote.
"There should be greater transparency on the issue of televoting. This year it was all very strange about it," JJ explained to El Pais.
According to report in Turkish media by anti-Israel reporter, Germany’s ARD threatened to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was excluded.
Music industry heavyweight Scooter Braun has launched a passionate defense of Israeli Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael, who faced accusations of vote manipulation despite winning the public vote and placing second overall in the 2025 competition.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calls for Israel’s exclusion, likens situation to Russia. Finland’s representative claims Yuval Raphael's success was “unfair”.