Ehud Banai
Ehud BanaiFlash 90

Ehud Banai, a well-known Israeli entertainer, spoke Monday evening with the Mayor of Mount Hevron Council, Zvika Bar Chai, and expressed to him his regret that he will not appear in the performance set to take place next week in the community of Susiya, located south of Mount Hevron.

Banai informed the mayor of his announcement to cancel his appearance on "That's Our Tune" because of pressure from the far left to discriminate against Jewish communities situated over the 1949 armistice line ("Green Line").

In response, Bar Chai emphasized to the singer that communities in Judea and Samaria show active involvement in all aspects of life in Israel, "and open doors to all parts of society." 

"Precisely for these reasons, we found ourselves hurt in regards to the matter," Bar Chai noted. 

In recent days, extreme left activists and PA Arabs put heavy pressure on Banai over the planned appearance. Banai tried to please them by promising to make the performance free for PA Arabs, but the pressure continued.

Ehud Banai, who identifies with the left, has generally not been deterred from giving performances east of the armistice line, but in 2008 he also decided to cancel a concert in southern Hevron Hills at the last minute.