Kobi Peretz speaks to the soldiers after being expelled from the IDF base in the north/Kobi Peretz's Instagram page
After the singer Kobi Peretz was expelled last night from a base in the north of the country because, according to the IDF, he arrived there without coordination and without proper authorization, Minister Dodi Amsalem attacked the army. In a speech in the Knesset, he said: "Kobi Peretz purchased tefillin, food, tassels and went to perform at the IDF base. He Coordinate it with the right person, may not be the right person, but he just came to make the IDF soldiers happy.
Someone in the IDF took down the shelter and decided to kick it out of the base. It's a shame and a shame. You wouldn't do that to Shlomo Artzi and certainly not to Aviv Gefen. It's a shame. There is a Jew who came to make the soldiers happy, this is his contribution today. I guess if he was at a young age Moreover, he would also have entered Gaza. Is this what you are doing to him, shamefully?"
This morning Peretz wrote a post in which he claimed that he was expelled from the base because he used to sing "May your village burn" and "May Gaza burn" in his performances in front of the soldiers.
"Good night, I am writing with tears in my eyes," wrote Peretz.
"For five months, immediately after the outbreak of the war, I took it upon myself to voluntarily appear in front of the IDF soldiers and contribute to strengthening the spirit of our dear soldiers.
I held dozens of concerts, perhaps more than any other singer in Israel, and sanctified the Name of God in many ways by distributing tefillin to soldiers from funds and donations that I raised for this purpose from Jews in Israel and around the world.
Giving his heart and soul to make happy those who stand guard of our country.
"Unfortunately, this evening, I experienced such humiliation that I do not know my soul from grief and anguish. Although I am sick, I drove three hours to the Jordanian camp located on the Lebanese border, on the way we were caught by a crazy barrage of missiles and for many minutes I found myself prostrate on the ground and praying that I will not be hurt. I will continue further north despite the threats and the security concern on the way to the base for the performance that was ordered by the IDF and that was scheduled in advance over a week ago and to my astonishment, when I am on stage, in front of me are dozens of soldiers who are just waiting for me to give them moments of joy and suddenly someone turned off the electricity and said to me Get out of here, you don't have permission to appear here'.
I was shocked, I didn't understand what had happened, so they told me, 'They don't want you here because you sing 'Let your village burn down'.
"I tried to protest, to say 'You are the ones who invited me, I traveled for hours on the road especially, it's all voluntary. The performance was coordinated and published in advance already a week ago, why are you insulting me and the soldiers in such a shameful way?'. The soldiers also tried to protest against the same commander but they told me 'This is an order from above, you don't have permission and get out of here.' The minister of Gaza and all the terrorists may their name be wiped off the face of the earth? That I wish to wipe out the memory of Amalek? I am not okay with that? Tell me, have we gone crazy? Is this how the IDF wants to win?
Is this the fighting spirit?
"After five months, now it turns out that it is forbidden to curse them because God forbid what the world will say. The shame is not on me but on the state and the IDF commanders.
You are the ones who allow the laxity in front of our enemies as if we learned nothing from October 7."
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Kobi Peretz/screenshot, Network 13
Last night, as mentioned, Peretz was expelled from a base in the north, according to a first publication by Ran Booker from Ynet.
Despite the IDF's claim that the arrival was made without permission, Peretz's people insist that the visit was prearranged and even sent Walla! Culture an invitation to the event which states that at 6:30 pm there will be a barbecue dinner and then at 7:45 pm Peretz's performance will take place.
Peretz has arrived to the base and upon entering it he encountered difficulties in entering. After he managed to enter and began to perform - officials at the base turned off his amplification system and demanded that the soldiers leave the place. The commanders shouted to the soldiers: "The entire battalion to the rooms now!" Later, according to a published video, a fierce confrontation broke out between Kobi Peretz called an IDF officer an "idiot" and the officer told him "get out of here, you entered without permission."
Kobi Peretz/Sharon Rabivo
The IDF spokesperson stated in response: "The singer's performance was not approved in accordance with IDF orders and policies, therefore the singer was asked to leave. The circumstances and conduct of those involved in the event will be examined and the procedures will be refined."
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Kobi Perez