Herzliya bans pop star Eyal Golan from performing at municipal events amid resurfaced sexual assault allegations

The municipality of Herzliya announces that it will no longer be inviting Israeli singer Eyal Golan to perform at concerts or events organized by the city, after decade-old allegations of sex offenses against minors resurfaced earlier this week when the Kan public broadcaster interviewed one of the chief complainants against him.

The program marked the first time that complainant Taisia Zamolutzky spoke publicly about her experiences with Golan and the first time that her name was made public.

Herzliya deputy mayor Dana Oren Yanai confirms that Golan will no longer be invited to perform at municipal events, and says that she made the decision in light of the “difficult and disgusting” allegations against him.

The heads of 10 other municipalities and regional councils follow suit after Herzliya, announcing in a joint statement that they, too, will “refrain from booking Eyal Golan’s performances at any event financed by public funds.”

“The property tax of residents should not be used to advance those who were so seriously involved in acts and incidents that women and societal values,” the statement reads.

It calls on additional municipalities to join them in making it clear “that there is no place for a culture of humiliating women or making light of harming them.”

The statement is signed by the mayors of Kiryat Ono, Ganei Tikva, and Netanya, as well as the heads of the Emek Hefer Regional Council, Kadima Tzoran Regional Council, Jezreel Valley Regional Council, Drom HaSharon Regional Council, Tel Mond Regional Council, Gezer Regional Council, and Kohav Yair-Tzur Yigal Regional Council.

גל רודף גל ונשבר: אחרי עיריית הרצליה (כבוד) עוד עשר רשויות מודיעות שיפסיקו להזמין את אייל גולן להופיע בשטחן pic.twitter.com/b4nej1bJlZ

— Amit Slonim (@Slonim) January 1, 2025