There was a buzz in the pop music news portals when Noa Kirel, Israel’s biggest pop star at the time, joined the army in November 2020. Kirel, then 18, reported to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for regular basic training three years ago. In Israel there is compulsory military service, which applies equally to men and women after completing school.
Noa Kirel rose to prominence as a YouTube sensation back in 2015, and her hits, which mix sultry Hebrew dance music with mainstream Western pop, soon reached the top of regional radio charts. Since 2017, she has won the “MTV Europe Music Award” for Best Israeli Act three times in a row. She starred in her own television series on the “Kidz” channel and has been a judge on “Israel’s Got Talent” since she was 16. A very colorful figure in the barracks of Israel.
This willingness to fight from the often pacifist entertainment camp has increased dramatically since the Hamas attacks on October 7th.
Current example:
A security guard who worked for Taylor Swift on her “The Eras” tour has flown to Israel to support the IDF as a reservist in the current conflict.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed himself to a journalist from the “Israel Today” format, who in turn broadcast the news via social channels. Various US media also reported.
“I have a pretty great life in the US,” the Swift bodyguard told the Israeli reporter. “With a dream job that I love and great friends that I call family and a very comfortable home. I SHOULDN’T HAVE COME HERE… BUT I COULD NOT WATCH FAMILIES IN THEIR HOUSES BE SLAUGHTERED AND BURNED ALIVE!!! Just because they are Jews or Israelis.”
And further:
“I’m not just standing up for Israel here, in the truest sense of the word. I stand here for all of humanity.”
His emotional message: “Don’t be on the wrong side of history! Don’t stand on the sidelines and say nothing. .. Stand with Israel, stand with humanity!!!”
Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks, which included massacres at Kibbutz Be’eri, Kibbutz Kfar Aza and a deadly attack on a trance techno festival, were met with lethal retaliation by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), most notably so far with rocket attacks.