"Turned us into an election broadcast": Following Netanyahu's arrival, first lawsuit filed against Eden Ben Zaken
A small claims lawsuit was filed against the production company, claiming that the Prime Minister's presence was forced upon the audience. Simultaneously, protests from hostage relatives against the singer and Netanyahu are growing, with the mother of fallen soldier Ron Sherman calling to boycott Ben Zaken, and hostage survivor Agam Goldstein-Almog defining the event as a "spit in the face."
The presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Eden Ben Zaken's performance last Thursday has reached the court. A spectator who purchased a ticket is suing the production company for 1,000 shekels. This comes alongside sharp criticism from hostage relatives who accuse Netanyahu of callousness and are calling for a boycott of the singer.
The lawsuit was filed in the Small Claims Court against Ben Zaken's production company. The plaintiff claims that the appearance of the Netanyahu couple, who were filmed and projected on screens while the Prime Minister spoke, turned the cultural event into political propaganda. During the evening, Netanyahu addressed Ben Zaken and the audience in the hall, declaring that those present prove that the people of Israel are alive, strong, and happy.
In the statement of claim, the plaintiff noted that he bought tickets for Eden Ben Zaken's performance on August 20, 2026, at the Menora Arena, and to his astonishment, she brought Netanyahu and held an election broadcast for him during the performance. He explained that this was not stated in advance, and otherwise, he would not have bought tickets for the show. The plaintiff added that he felt the singer was forcing election advertising on the audience against their will, and as a result, he chose to leave the hall in the middle of the performance.
The civil proceeding joins growing public criticism surrounding the event, especially from hostage families. Dr. Maayan Sherman, whose son, soldier Ron, had his body recovered from the Gaza Strip last December after he was killed in an IDF strike, called yesterday to boycott Ben Zaken and clarified that anyone who continues to fund her is spitting on Ron's grave. Sherman noted that her call also applies to Ben Zaken's participation in television programs. Sherman frequently criticizes the conduct of the political echelon since her son's death and claims that the state is sacrificing hostages for military utility instead of exhausting diplomatic alternatives.
The protest against the singer arose a day after hostage survivor Agam Goldstein-Almog, who was released in the first deal after her father and sister were murdered, attacked Netanyahu on her Instagram account. Goldstein-Almog revealed that the Prime Minister has still not contacted her, has not taken responsibility, has not expressed pain over her loss, and has not met her since she was released from captivity. She defined his choice to attend the show as a joke and a spit in the face.
