Arab Idol

Is crossing through Israel considered normalization? Saber Rebai's performance at the Rawabi Amphitheater (Samah Salaime)

The Tunisian star who filled Palestinians with hope — for one night

For one night, Tunisian megastar Saber Rebaï brought Palestinians in the West Bank just a modicum of normalcy. Rawabi, Arabic for “hills,” is a sleek name for a Palestinian city that was recently built between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Surrounded by settlements on all sides, the place looks like a standard Israeli bedroom community and has been dubbed “the…

By Samah Salaime August 23, 2016

Haitham Khalailah performs on Arab Idol. (Screenshot from Arab Idol, MBC)

How a Galilee Palestinian beat the odds to become an Arab Idol finalist

On his way to the finale of one of the most important shows in the Arab world, Haitham Khalailah had to deal with the Shin Bet, restrictions on the movement of Palestinian citizens and the fraught connection between Palestinians in Israel and the rest of the Middle East. Will he be the second Palestinian in a…

By Henriette Chacar December 12, 2014

Tens of thousands gather to hear Muhammad Assaf perform in Ramallah. July 1, 2013. (May Castelnuovo)

PHOTOS: ‘Arab Idol’ winner Muhammad Assaf performs in Ramallah

Photos by May Castelnuovo When Muhammad Assaf won the ‘Arab Idol’ singing competition last month, spontaneous celebrations took place throughout Gaza and the West Bank. Upon winning the pan-Arab competition, Assaf promised to hold three free concerts in cities in the West Bank – in Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron. As Abeer Ayyoub wrote for +972 last…

By +972 Magazine July 2, 2013

Latest

Palestinian Mohammad Assaf, singing in 'Arab Idol (Screenshot)

Palestinian’s ‘Arab Idol’ victory is a reminder that there’s nothing to fear

Muhammed Assaf’s victory on ‘Arab Idol’ should be a reminder to Israelis that there is nothing to fear. On the contrary, when it comes to our Arab neighbors, there is plenty to be proud of. By Noam Shaul I only discovered Mohammed Assaf, a contestant on the “Arab Idol” reality show and resident of Khan…

By Cafe Gibraltar June 29, 2013

Palestinian Mohammad Assaf, singing in 'Arab Idol (Screenshot)

After ‘Arab Idol’ win, Gaza goes to sleep with hope

By winning the Arab Idol singing competition, Muhammad Assaf did what politics hasn’t been able to: he united Palestinians. By Abeer Ayyoub GAZA – I have, in the past, witnessed Palestinians in Gaza rushing into the streets to celebrate various events. Once, it was after reaching a ceasefire that ended the eight-day Israeli offensive in…

By +972 Magazine June 23, 2013