Why icon of Turkish music in Israel, Ofer Levi, now hostile toward Türkiye?

Ofer Levi was born in 1964 in Kiryat Ata, as the seventh of nine children of Hannah and Mordechai. He began his music career at an early age, making his first major breakthrough at 12 by performing an Arabic song by an Egyptian singer.

He served in the Golani Brigade during the 1982 Lebanon War and released the album “Ha’Kalfan,” which gained popularity among Turkish and Arab music lovers, in 1988.

Using Turkish artist’s name, releasing album from concert in Türkiye

Levi, to be recognized by music enthusiasts in Türkiye, chose the stage name “Ferdi” to express his admiration for the Turkish artist Ferdi Tayfur.

His live album “Tefilat Adam,” recorded during his performances in Türkiye in 1990, drew significant attention.

However, in August 2024, a social media post by Levi sparked a major backlash.

During the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, Levi praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, “Netanyahu, we are behind you. Our holy book (Torah) commands us to destroy our enemies,” and “Drop an atomic bomb on Iran, Yemen, and Türkiye!”

These statements ignited a considerable debate both in Türkiye and on the international stage. The comments, overshadowing Levi’s successes in his music career, further strains Türkiye-Israel relations.

Turkish artist’s reaction

Famous musician and composer Kadir Tapucu responded to Israeli singer Ofer Levi’s anti-Türkiye statements on social media.

Tapucu criticized Levi’s call for dropping atomic bombs on Yemen, Iran, and Türkiye in his statement to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Referring to the Torah’s “Thou shalt not kill” verse, Tapucu emphasized that Levi’s targeting of the Turkish nation under the guise of a religious war was unacceptable.

“If I expect honor and integrity from you now, do not use my compositions. We will take legal action against you in international courts using my legal rights,” Tapucu added.

It remains to be seen how Levi’s statements will impact Türkiye’s music and cultural world and his future musical career.