Israeli metal band becoming Turkish

Members of an Israeli heavy metal band that is a fan favorite in Turkey plan to go full throttle and take on Turkish citizenship.

Orphaned Land’s progressive metal riffs have won them a solid fan base in Turkey, even as relations between Jerusalem and Ankara have soured in recent years.

On Tuesday, the Turkish website Turk News reported that the band’s members would become citizens in time for their next show in Turkey in September.

“I hope the process will run properly and Orphaned Land will be in their second homeland, Turkey, as Turkish citizens for the next concert,” the band’s manager said, according to the website.

The band, which mixes Jewish and Arab liturgy with modern rock music, claims to have fans across the Arab world. The band plays several times a year in Turkey, and fans from Arab countries that Orphaned Land can’t enter come to see them there.

In March, Turkey awarded the band the Peace and Friendship Award, with symbols of Turkey, Israel, Judaism and Islam.

“Our tour in Turkey was amazing, supported by a great audience as always and it is for a good reason that Turkey is always described as Orphaned Land’s second home,” vocalist Kobi Farhi said at the time.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been icy since 2010, when Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish citizens aboard a ship trying to break the Gaza blockade. Turkey has demanded an apology, which Israel has refused to do, saying its soldiers acted in self defense.

Before the incident, Turkey was considered Israel’s closest ally in the region, with extensive trade and tourism ties between the two countries.