"It's a sign for all the people in the world with prejudice", said Dana after the victory. She waved the Israeli flag on stage and declared: "This is my present for the 50th anniversary."

"See you next year in Jerusalem, I love you all. Thank you very very much," said the singer Dana International with excitement yesterday when she got on stage as the winner of the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest.

It was the dramatic record-long evening in the Arena hall in Birmingham, when only at the last minute at the end of a nerve-racking voting session it became clear that the Israeli singer was the winner. The last country to vote, Macedonia, gave Dana the 8 points which made the difference.

Dana won the sympathy of the audience from the minute she got on stage. Excited applause accompanied the song 'Diva' - written by Yoav Ginai and Tzvika Pik - and Israeli flags were waved in the audience.

When the voting began, it became clear that Israel was dealing with two other 'strong' countries. Malta, and the host of the contest, England. These three countries were in a close struggle from the beginning until the decision was final. Israel accumulated 174 points and preceded England (167 points) and Malta (166 points).

"It's my present for Israel on its 50th anniversary," Dana told the reporters right after the moment of victory. "I have suffered for 5 months. There has been a lot of tension and pressure on me. The Israelis strangled me with pride, and I didn't want to disappoint them," she added. "It's a sign for all the people with prejudice in the world. The world is developing and progressing. We are all the same. There is no up and no down," she said. The British press bet on Dana even before the contest and emphasized the personal story of the singer born as a man - who received the worlds glory as a woman. Dana summed it up yesterday: "I'm not forcing anyone to accept me. God is with me, and this is the final proof."

This victory was another one in Dana International’s chain of victories over prejudice. The beginning was not easy. Through the years, Dana, 26, born as Yaron Cohen, held shows in irreputable night clubs and faced hostile audiences which didn't know how to react to this colorful singer. Since her childhood, she used to wear women clothes, put on make-up and use every opportunity to share her big dream - to be a world famous singer. She surrounds herself with a group of dancers and her personal manager, Ofer Nisim, who accompanied her loyally all the way.

Dana, a girl from a traditional Yemenite family, has conquered the place of honor in the Israeli charts, and even received the title 'Singer of the Year'. Among her famous songs we find the great cover version of 'Yeshnan banot', the love song 'Ani lo yekhola' and many others. She has done star performances in European clubs and was adopted by the gay community, before the Eurovision in Birmingham they made an unprecedented campaign to promote her song.

International lives with a childhood friend, Shmulik Sa'adia, in a quiet street in Tel-Aviv, and in the past she has declared in interviews that she wants to raise a family. The world press was very interested in her before her big victory in the Eurovision, and we can only guess that now the interest in her will increase. Dana has tried many times to start an international career, and it seems that now, the gates will open up for her.

 

Perhaps nothing describes Dana International better than the opening line of the song that she belted out to the world last night, to win the Eurovision Song Contest: "There are some women who are simply larger than life." While she has long since achieved icon status in the Tel Aviv nightclub scene and national notoriety through her string of hit songs, Dana's fame has multiplied thanks to the magnifying glass of international publicity. But when she brought home the trophy last night in Birmingham, England, the colorful and flamboyant singer also won first place in the race for media attention. By Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Never before has there been so much interest generated in an Israeli artist - or any artist, for that matter - for so many months preceding the big annual competition for the best European song. But then again, never before has an acknowledged transsexual competed for the Eurovision crown.

The choice of Dana International, born Yaron Cohen, to represent Israel in the Eurovision competition, was instantly an irresistibly attractive story for the world press, since it comes from the Holy Land, and quickly managed to stir up a healthy dose of local controversy.

When Dana's selection as the Israeli entry was announced in November, members of the religious Shas Party objected. There were even murmurs of threats to overturn the government over the issue.

Shas Party deputy health minister Rabbi Shlomo Ben-Izri made a comment that grabbed the most headlines worldwide: "As a son of the Jewish people, this offends me," he said. "The choice is disgraceful for me as a Jew. The Jewish people has always been a light unto the nations. They will now be a darkness unto the nations. Everyone abroad will say: 'Look at those Jews and what they are sending to perform, some kind of crossbreed.' Dana is an abomination. Even in Sodom there was nothing like it."

Despite the political waves, the Israel Broadcasting Authority stood solidly by its selection of Dana and her song, "Diva," arguing, in the words of committee chair Gil Samsonov, that "We should be seen as a liberal, free country that chooses songs on their merits, not on the basis of the body of the man or woman."

Yoav Ginai, who wrote the lyrics to "Diva," said that, in his view, Dana's participation has had a positive effect on Israel's image. "Most people around the world only hear about us in the context of our wars or controversies over religious coercion, hence we have a very conservative image. The idea that Israel, of all countries, is sending a transsexual to the competition has made huge waves and is greeted in most circles with approval."

Ginai wrote "Diva" with Dana in mind. "I thought that a song that celebrated great women suited her, considering her personal story - she is someone who has fought so hard to become a woman and a singer. It was a very appropriate statement forher to be making."

Ginai turned to Zvika Pik to write the music. Pik had penned an excellent hit for Dana several years ago, "I Can't Make It Without You" ("Ani Lo Yachola Biladaycha").

Pik, a staple of the Israeli pop scene, tried his luck as a performer in the Israeli Eurovision trials five times, but never managed to get to the Grand Prix singing his own tunes.

On the eve of the delegation's departure for the Eurovision, Pik clashed with Dana and with the IBA over whether or not he would receive a free ticket to Birmingham as part of the official Israeli delegation. In previous years, composers were brought over to conduct the orchestration of their tunes. But this year, with Dana's music being prerecorded, the IBA decided that there was no need for him for him to come. Pik insisted that his presence was necessary behind the scenes to coordinate the performance; but when the IBA checked with Dana's entourage, they denied this, and said Pik's presence would be an unwelcome distraction. In the end, Pik decided to fly to Birmingham to share in the glory.

Ginai says he was pleased both with the song and the way it was presented. The song was performed with four female backup singers, each one representing a different style of female singing, from opera to traditional Middle Eastern. He was not concerned that the issue of Dana's sexual identity would overshadow the song. "I think all the fuss is a good thing, because it draws attention to the song. Obviously if it was a bad song, the attention wouldn't do a thing for it; but the combination of Dana and an excellent song is a different story." Although the song was favorably handicapped among Eurovision insiders, Ginai was wary about its chances of winning, particularly since Eurovision voting had changed this year, relying on telephone voting by viewers instead of pre-selected committees in each country.

Ironically, in Israel "Diva" was chosen by a less democratic method than in the past. It was chosen by committee instead of the traditional "Pre-Eurovision" competition which, until this year, was televised nationally, and the winners were chosen by groups of local celebrities and citizens from different parts of the country.

Israel first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 and since then has competed 20 times, winning twice before last night. For three of those years, Israel did not participate because the dates of these contests fell on Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day. Twice, Israel failed to make the final cut.

If name recognition was a factor in this year's new, more popular voting style, it apparently worked to Dana's advantage: the singer has been featured prominently in the media across Europe.

In stark contrast, Dana has been far more elusive as far as the Israeli press is concerned. But most local readers are familiar with the story of Yaron Cohen, the effeminate young Yemenite boy who loved music and grew up idolizing Ofra Haza, a fellow Yemenite who brought the song "Hai" to the Eurovision song contest in the 1970s.

At age 16, Dana discovered the gay nightlife scene of Tel-Aviv and soon met manager Offer Nissim, who first realized her potential and put her in a drag show, performing, among other things, impersonations of Ofra Haza.

In 1993, Dana underwent a sex change operation and set her sights on stardom, gradually climbing to the top of the dance music scene. Her name makes her international ambitions clear. She enjoys singing in Arabic as well as in Hebrew, French, and English. Her provocative songs in Arabic have become bootleg favorites across the border in Egypt. Nissim, still her manager, claims that more than half a million copies of her records have been sold there. She has been accused in some circles there of being a hostile Zionist agent bent on corrupting Egyptian youth.

Dana came close to representing Israel in 1995, with her rendition of "Layla Tov Eropa" ("Good Night, Europe") - also written by Ginai. At the time, she speculated that Israel's sending a transsexual to the Eurovision could cause a "scandal." Not only the international press has become fascinated by Dana. She has become admired not simply as a performer, but as a symbol of free sexual expression and the epitome of chic androgyny.

Several months ago she received a fax from internationally acclaimed designer Jean-Paul Gaultier offering to design her dress for the contest. Dana graciously accepted. Dana has also been invited to perform at the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games, the homosexual Olympic contest that will be held this summer in Amsterdam. She has refused to make a commitment as to whether to appear until after the Eurovision, though it is almost certain that, with her new high profile, a European tour and an international album will be in the works soon after her contest triumph.

After that, no one who is familiar with Dana's global ambitions will rule out her next step. Hollywood, perhaps? Madonna, watch out.

 

At the end of a tense and close vote, Dana International’s song 'Diva' defeated Malta’s entry and won the first place - a third victory for Israel in the Eurovision. From the first minute she got on stage, it was obvious that Dana had come to give a show on a major scale. And indeed - she did it. Dana won.

At the end of a tense and close vote, right until the last minute, Dana International’s song 'Diva' won with 174 points, and defeated Malta’s song (166 points). It has been 19 years since Israel’s last victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Hallelujah' in 1979. Now, after two years of absence from the contest for complex reasons, Israel conquered Europe again with a rhythmical and lively song.

After the victory, Dana returned to the stage for an exciting encore to the uproar of the England audience when she was waving the Israeli flag. The encore was made in an exhibitionistic dress, different from the one she wore for the first performance. A lot of Israelis waved blue-white flags, danced on the chairs, and encouraged Dana with huge excitement. Dana ended the ceremony with a call to the audience, while weeping with the excitement: "I want to thank all of you. I want to say I love you. See you next year in Jerusalem!" And indeed, Israel can accommodate the next European Song Contest. Afterwards Dana said that her victory was a present in honor of Israel's 50th anniversary.

Dana’s song was the eighth in the contest, after seven typical and boring Eurovision songs. It seemed like the viewers in the hall in Birmingham had almost gone to sleep. But when she started to sing 'Diva' (by Yoav Ginai and Tzvika Pik), it was obvious to everyone that they were watching something totally different. The audience began to wake up.

A few minutes before, Dana was full of fears: "My heart is exploding from all the excitement", she said.

Dana was at her best. She had loosened up, was smiling and energetic. The backing vocalists wore a red pin on their dresses, to show they identify with the AIDS struggle.

Three minutes later, when the song was over, the audience was very alert. Most of it stood on its feet and shouted in joy. A big group of Israelis waved the Israeli flag and encouraged Dana loudly, with a lot of pride.

"Tell her that she gave the show of her life," Tzvika Pik told Yoav Ginai and asked from him to deliver to Dana his compliments. In all the excitement Pik 'forgot' the struggle he had with Dana and her personal managers, because of some changes that had been done in his version.

 

"I still can not digest the fact that I was the one who won the Eurovision Song Contest," says Dana International to the reporter Tal Pery. International is very excited, weeping a little bit, and completely sure that she has done all that she wanted to. She is presenting this victory as "My gift to Israel's 50th anniversary."

Less than two hours after she won the first place in the '98 Eurovision Song Contest, Dana was sitting in her room in the Hyatt in Birmingham, and for the first time since she was announced as the big winner of the contest, she had a few moments of silence. "I still cannot digest it," she says, "I still cannot tell myself 'I won the Eurovision Song Contest'. It sounds so unreal. I can't even cry."

- But in the interview to the television we saw a tear in the corner of your eye.
"It was not a tear. Someone splashed a little wine on me. I really think I won't cry until I land in Israel. Only when I comprehend that I'm at home again. When I hug my mother I will start to cry. Just a moment, I will call her."

Dana is dialing the house of her parents. "You'd better come to meet me in the airport," she is threatening - maybe in jest, maybe seriously. "My mum sounds ruined," she is reporting, "She is a very emotional person. She takes things to her heart."

The Israeli song 'Diva' by Yoav Ginai and Tzvika Pik got 172 points. For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest the voting was done by telephones, where every citizen in all participating countries can choose his favorite song directly, dialling directly to a special telephone exchange. The new method gave an energy injection to the boring contest and added a renewed tension to it. All countries had a different taste, but our 'Diva' was leading all the way, together with Malta's song.

The breath almost stopped at the last voting point, of Turkey. At this stage Malta and Israel had equal points. The last voting point was Macedonia, and the tension in the 'Arena' hall in Birmingham could be cut with a knife. "That was the moment I thought I had lost the first place," Dana remembers, "I was convinced that if Macedonia give us only 8 points, the 12 will go to Malta, and Malta will win. I remember I told myself 'Dana, you are not going to win, make a happy face for the camera so that people won't see your disappointment'. I didn't comprehend what was happening when Malta didn't get any points."

- But you went for the first place...
"I wanted to win. I would have been happy with second or third, or with knowing that I gave a good show and represented my country in a most honourable way, but yes, the final goal was victory. It was a long way, and hard one, which includes months of working day and night, lots of preparations, rehearsals, and mental stress. But it was worth it."

- What was the thing that scared you the most?
"That my show wouldn't be good enough, and that when I come back home, I would have to look people in the eye and know that I hadn't given my best."

But she gave her best. And it was much more than enough. The thing which started as a tour of victory in the presentation session was also clear in the voting session. From the minute she arrived in Birmingham it was obvious that she was the star of the Eurovision.

"Even Madonna wouldn't get such media attention," said the newspapers. "A new star is born in the Eurovision and her name is Dana International," the daily newspaper "Evening Mail" wrote in an article published a day before the contest. The headline was: "Her body was made by surgeons, but her voice is a gift from God." Thousands of photographers crowded around her after the victory. They wanted smiles, they wanted kisses, they wanted to know how she feels. "I feel s-p-l-e-n-d-i-d," she answered and tried not to blink at the flashes of the cameras.

Only afterwards, during the fuzz, she found herself shocked in front of the team, and only after few minutes of silence the sound advisor Mark Rotwal said: "Guys, we have won the Eurovision Song Contest." "My God," Dana said to herself, "I have done the same thing as 'A-ba-ni-bi' and 'Hallelujah'." "No!!!" everyone corrected her, "You are the 'Diva'!"

Tzvika Pik, the composer of the song, was completely euphoric. Every few minutes he called Israel. "My daughter is in shock," he declared, "Her father won the Eurovision Song Contest." Pik arrived in Birmingham two days before the contest, accompanied by a wave of rumors about shaky relations between him, Dana and her managers. Before the contest, the two kept their distance, but Pik wants to explain. "I love Dana very much," he said, "I always loved her. But because of the stress and the tension we were a little bit crazy. I wouldn't dare to say something bad about her." After the victory Dana, Pik, Ofer Nissim, her personal manager, and Shai Kerem, her artistic advisor, became best friends, with hugs and kisses.

"Dana built this victory with her two hands," said Shai Kerem, "Nothing came to her easily. No big record company took her seriously. They said that the media created her, but the truth is that everyone looked at her as a gimmick. Now she is in a situation where no-one can say a word about her ability as an artist, and its her victory, and Ofer Nissim's victory, who saw something no-one else saw."

Ofer Nissim, Dana's personal manager and the one who writes and produces most of her songs, turned in a situation of a blackout. Nissim discovered Dana, then still Yaron Cohen, in a night club in Tel-Aviv, and recruited him for a drag show he directed. Then, he comprehended the huge potential that was in this young man, who afterwards became a woman. Nisim dreamt about a band of his own, Drama, but abandoned his dreams and concentrated on Dana International.

"I had no difficulty in giving up on the band for Dana," he told me three days ago, "I have always been preferred the backstage to the front of the stage. When I started to work with Dana it was obvious to me that there was no limit to what I could reach with her. I told myself: 'Why should I try to build a band of guys when I have the opportunity to work with such thing?' A lot of Dana's hits, like 'Petra' and 'Layla Tov Europa', were actually written for an album planned for Drama. I gave her everything."

Right after the victory, the Israeli team arrived at a formal cocktail party at the BBC, where Dana was received with a royal treatment. More photographers, more autographs, more congratulations. As the night goes on, Ginai, the writer of 'Diva' gets reports from Israel and he updates the members of the expedition: "Guys, the country is in full storm. People are jumping omto the fountain in Rabin square, there are 20,000 celebrating in the square!"

The song 'Diva' in its English version will be released to stores this week in 8 European countries distributed by Sony. There are contacts developing on a recording contract with a British company, and it seems that the road of International to an international career is already paved. "Sony wanted me to stay in Europe in order to make a promo for the song," Dana said, "But I didn't agree under any circumstances. First of all, I go back to Israel, and then I will take a vacation. I'm totally exhausted mentally."

- Do you see yourself break into the international market?
"That would have happened even if I hadn't taken the first place in the Eurovision Song Contest. The progress was already in action and it cannot be stopped."

- What do you have to say to all the orthodox who were against you?
"I have nothing to say to them. I don't want to make war with anyone. I wanted to win the Eurovision Song Contest in order to give it as a present to my country, and I did it. For me, that's the most important thing. Why should I focus on those who don't love me, when there are so many who love me? I feel that in this contest I have finally proved that there is a place in the world for people like me. There is a place in the world for the way I choose to live my life!"

 

There is a woman greater than life / She has senses nobody else has / There is magic and there are hard days / And a stage which is all hers / For the angels, Diva is an empire / On stage, Diva is hysteria / All of her is a love song...

Read the opening lines of 'Diva' again. You cannot ignore the obvious meaning of the song: The story of the short, but stormy and exciting career of Dana International.

Greater than life, with senses nobody else has, with hard days that she had, a few moments of charm, but big ones. On the stage Dana is hysteria, in her art and her belief, she is an empire. And everything is for love. Even the Gentiles, who have been accused of anti-Semitism for the last 19 years, couldn't ignore the parallels between the personal story and the performing character, and give Israel one of the most righteous victories, but also the most nerve-wrecking ones in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.

"I still cannot take it in," said Dana International again and again. "Only when I arrive home, will I succeeded to understand the achievement."

- What was in your head at the minute of the victory?
"Anxiety, a lot of fear. I was sure that Malta would get more points. I couldn't believe it. I asked: 'are we winning???' I wanted to know only if it was final. I was afraid of mistakes in the calculation of the points. I had a feeling that the end of the world was coming."

"I tried to cry. I thought about my family, my parents, by brother. I told myself: 'Keep up the bravery. Be a lady until the end'. I think I will cry only when I get home, with my parents and my friends. Generally, it's too bad I'm here and not at home. I want to watch it on television, be happy, and hug everyone. I'm bombed that I'm not with them.

When she was broadcast on a direct telephone line to the Rabin Square, she screamed into the tube: "Guys, I love you all. We brought a light to the Gentiles! I want you to wait for tomorrow. Don't celebrate without me!!!"

- Try to restore your thoughts.
"I didn't think about the first place. I was afraid to think about it, because if I hadn't won, it would have been a huge disappointment. But I was sure that I wouldn't reach a low place. Something like 17. I told myself: 'Lady, you have contracts in Europe, shut up and be happy you have more than all the other winners of the past, who no-one remembers."

"But during the vote, I panicked. After getting 12 points twice, I convinced myself that I would reach third or second place. But inside, I dreamt about the first place. Mummy, what a big message to the nation. What a knockout to all the jealous people. Even Birmingham is beautiful now."

- It was worth it?
"Of course. It will last all my life. Yizhar Cohen has been interviewed for 20 years. Now people will get tips from me too."

- What is the first thing that you want to do when you will come back home?
"To see my mother and my father. My friends, my dog - Leri. I feel sorry that I didn't bring him. I miss him so much."

- In the historic press conference you held in Birmingham you said that you wanted to go back home and to say 'I told you so!'. To whom exactly?
"To the politicians, and to the singers. I was supposed to take part in the show '50 years for fashion', but two very respected singers announced that they would cancel their shows, and eventually I was left out. In the 'Queen of Beauty Ceremony' a very known singer didn't want to show because of my presence. The 'Variety' organization didn't let me sing its hymn because I'm a controversial figure. More examples: When we were filming the music video of 'Diva', a lot of hall owners were afraid to let me use their halls because they felt their Kosher certificates were threatened...."

- Now, after the victory in the contest, you think the attitudes will change?
"No. There are some people who are narrow-minded, fanatic and have a disgusting character."
Because of the press conference she had to give yesterday at noon in the centre of Birmingham, Dana and her team were forced to delay their return to Israel with one hour. This delay was made by the BBC with the help of El Al. If it had depended on Dana, she wouldn't have waited to hold the press conference. The homesickness was ruining her.

"I was asked to stay here a few more days," she said, "no way. I’m returning home. To rest. I wil take a month of vacation. I want to go to New-York, to enjoy anonymity. In Europe, I'm no longer anonymous. This week was scary, with all the reporters and cameras. But I'm ready for the assault in Israel. It's fun there."

- What's next?
"An international career. We have a huge number of offers and invitations. We will have to examine all of it carefully."

- Are you willing to stay abroad for long periods now?
"Never! More than 10 days abroad and I get crazy. I miss the Tel Aviv smell. Here, everyone is so slick. Meanwhile I'm so happy it's over. What a relief. I feel like someone took a huge weight off my shoulders."

The only two things Dana is willing to tell us are the filming of a new music video for Kukuruku [It was canceled later - ZG], and her performance at the 'Gay Games' - the gay and lesbian Olympiad, which will be held in Amsterdam in August.

All the rest, she says, is still not clear.

On the plane of the 'Diva' it was written "First place in the Eurovision Song Contest." The stewards distributed flowers and champagne to the passengers, and Dana was given the reception of a super-star in the cockpit. "They wanted me to stay for a promotion tour, but I'm addicted to Israel, that's why I came back home. I want to celebrate with you all." By Amir Kaminer and Amos Oren.

Hundreds of excited fans waited for the 'Diva' Dana International at Ben Gurion airport yesterday at midnight. Dana went out to her fans, and the excitement was huge. The fans waved Israeli flags and [gay] pride flags, and she thanked them for their love and support. "A moment before the victory, I was sure it was going to be taken away from us, and I was really disappointed, because we were so close. But the fact that Malta didn't get any point, it came from God, who kept us tense until the end."

The welcome actually started already the night following Sabbath, right after the announcement of the victory. Dana was still in England when thousands of young people celebrated the victory at Rabin square in Tel-Aviv. "This is the real celebration of the 50th Israeli anniversary." Meanwhile, in Birmingham, the Israeli delegation went out for a welcome in one of the hotels in the city. At the hotel lots of Israelis shouted in joy, among them a group of religious who had come especially from London in order to take part in the celebrations. Not to demonstrate.

Dana preferred to spend the rest of the night doing phone calls home, among others to the celebrations in Rabin square. Dana asked them to wait for her. Because of the excitement, emotion and the late hour, Dana and her group gave up on the formal closing-party held by the BBC for all of the participants in the Eurovision Song Contest. The euphoric Birmingham tour of the 'Diva' ended yesterday at noon with a festive press conference at the city council. International, after a long night without sleep, was asked again and again about the orthodox' reactions to her, and the resistance they might make against holding the contest next year in Israel. The singer repeated her well-phrased answers, for a free country and for equal rights for all.

"God is with me," she declared, "I love Him and He loves me and if people have a conscience - they will do some thinking with themselves, and reach certain conclusions. No one will take this from me. This is forever. It's the proof for me and them, that I'm worthy of living on this planet Earth."

Meanwhile Dana is getting compliments from right and left for the 'international prestige and honour' that she has brought to Israel. PM Bibi Netanyahu avoided publishing a formal greeting yesterday, but he instructed his communications advisor to call International, and to extend his greetings to her. The Ministry of Tourism yesterday announced the establishment of a special team which will examine the effect of the singer's victory on tourism to Israel. The team will examine ways to use the victory in order to escape from the crisis in the sector.

 

The Eurovision Song Contest, held this year in Birmingham, England, could not have taken place at a better time - a week and a half after the Jubilee Bells extravaganza in Jerusalem, which, from every possible angle, was a total embarrassment. Jubilee Bells gave the strong impression that the directors of the Festigal children's song festivals during the 1980s (which was the worst decade for middle-of-the-road Israeli music) still dominate our lives. This was disgustingly demonstrated by the cardboard boxes held aloft with total lack of coordination at the Independence Day show. By Michal Palti.

On Saturday night, Dana International proved that Israel is capable of approaching world standards of stage production. But what is more important: Dana, who was born a male, Yaron Cohen, and who underwent a sex-change operation, represented with pride the State of Israel in general and our homosexual and lesbian communities in particular, as if, a short while before winning first place in the Eurovision contest, a large demonstration against religious coercion had never taken place, as if the members of the Batsheva Dance Company decided not to appear in the Jubilee Bells show rather than to put on long underwear in their controversial act, as if the Batsheva incident did not represent a serious infringement of the rights of the individual.

The viewers of this year's Eurovision contest and the readers of Europe's most important newspapers whose correspondents interviewed Dana endlessly might have received the impression that Israel is a country where all citizens live as equals. Only in Israel can such widely divergent views be held by different segments of a single society. One can, in fact, regard Dana's win as a victory of the sane and tolerant segments of Israeli society. As MK Yael Dayan (Labor), who chairs the Knesset committee on the rights of homosexuals and lesbians, pointed out yesterday that "this important victory will strongly reinforce feelings of tolerance and understanding towards the homosexual and lesbian community".

Entire studies in sociology have focused on a curious aberration in our world: nations that send satellites into outer space but neglect their sewage systems, for example. In Israel, this gap has also spread into the cultural sphere, and Israelis must choose either to live with this gap or to fight it.

Dana has got where she has in the entertainment world because she is a courageous professional performer, not because she is some sort of gimmick. This professionalism was expressed in the way Dana and her producer, Ofer Nissim, meticulously planned her stage appearance. While some Israelis consider the Eurovision contest to be one big yawn, others will continue to regard it as a glittering television extravaganza, which is planned and executed with great care and which can help us, for at least one day, to forget both the anti-religious-coercion demonstrations and the long johns of would-be cultural censors.

 

Dana International yesterday sent a message to the orthodox opposing the choice of her representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest: "No one has a monopoly on God, and God has proved His position." She also said that her victory in the Eurovision was a knockout for the orthodox.

At a big press conference held yesterday at noon by Dana International, a few minutes before she left Birmingham to go back to Israel, she received a lot of compliments about her show. Yet, the British press’ reaction to the contest was feeble, and some of the media even ignored it. Those who reported included a picture of Dana with some bad explanation.

At the press conference, as an answer to the question about whether she has a boyfriend, Dana answered: "I had one three years ago and he was the love of my life. But now I invest all of myself in my career."

When she was asked about the reaction of the orthodox in Israel regarding her victory, she answered: "I think they will be very mad, but since I’m now getting international attention, I don't think they can do anything except be mad. I don't need to tell anyone anything. My victory is like a knockout to some, and when you give someone a knockout - there is nothing to add. I guess the orthodox will be quiet for a few months and then they will find new reasons to come out against me."

She also commented on the matter in an interview for "Galei Tzahal" [the army radio station - one of the most important in Israel - ZG]: "It's clear proof that God is with me and God loves me like I love Him. God makes those who should pay pay and He credits the ones He should credit. I love God and I feel He is with me."

Dana also said she would not deal with the Eurovision once again. "These five months I have had are enough." When asked if she intends to start an international career, she answered: "It's too early to talk about it yet, but I guess that pretty soon we will start making contacts with record companies. One thing is for sure: Dana has much more to offer you!"

Moreover, it was reported that Dana International has been invited to the committee of education and culture in the Knesset, as an sign of esteem for her victory. The chairman of the committee, MK Imanuel Zisman (Third Way), invited the singer for a discussion to be held in the committee on Wednesday. MK Zisman congratulated Dana for her victory and said "The singer and the song she performed brought a lot of respect and pride to Israel on the occasion of it's 50th anniversary." The MK also announced that on Wednesday he will give Dana a special gift as a token of respect on behalf of the education committee, for "her contribution to Israeli singing and culture."

PM Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't intend to meet with Dana International. Netanyahu seems to be aware that coalition problems could be the result of such a meeting, and after some consultations with his advisors it was decided to avoid meeting the singer. Yet, Shai Bazak, Netanyahu's communication advisor, tried to contact the singer and the writers of 'Diva' in order to confer to them Netanyahu’s personal congratulations.

Another reaction came, as expected, from MK Shlomo Ben-Izri from Shas: "I prayed he [sic] wouldn't win and I'm not glad he won, because of the negative message it transfers to Israeli youth. It's a shame for Israel that this person was sent to represent the country. Since I heard he won, my Shabbat was spoiled and I'm ashamed. We always were a light onto the Gentiles, now we are a darkness onto Gentiles."

As she returned to Israel, after some celebratory toasts of champagne served to her by the El-Al stewards, Dana continued to the hotel Isrotel-Tower in Tel-Aviv, where a suite had been ordered for her.

 

Dana decided to sing in the dress designed by Galit Levy instead of the dress by Jean-Paul Gaultier, donated for the victory.

There are some who think that Dana International won the Eurovision Song Contest simply because she did not dare to wear the dress designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier. She wore a grey dress, maybe too grey, by Galit Levy, but the dress didn't steal the show from the song.

After a big discussion between Dana and her managers, it was decided that Dana would go on stage with Levy’s dress instead of Gaultier’s. They also decided on another change: Dana's hairstyle would flow freely instead of being set up.The problem was - how to tell Gaultier about the change? After a lot of procrastrination, Dana's managers sent Gaultier an apology telegram, where they blamed the changing on the filming angles of the English director and the lighting that didn't fit the color of the feathers. As a compromise soultion, the director Ofer Shafrir suggested that if Dana won, she would do the encore in Gaultier's dress.

And indeed that's what happened.

Gaultier’s black dress, with a very short bolero covered with big, sharp and colorful feathers, was impressive, original and theatrical, but seemed very uncomfortable and really unpleasant to the eye. Gaultier, who came especially to Birmingham to see his creation on stage, must have been very disappointed to see the singer in a different dress, but he was consoled by seeing Dana in his creation after she won the contest. We can only guess how angry Gaultier would have been if Israel hadn’t won and his masterpiece had stayed in the closet.

Gaultier is considered the 'Diva' of the Parisian fashion world. And he also managed to stir up some disagreement when he dressed models in praying shawls and Hassidim’s bearskins.

Galit Levy (27) who hasn't even finished Shenkar [A famous fashion school - ZG], has been dressing Dana for her shows for a few years now. For the journey she designed her a few dresses for the press conferences. Dana was afraid as she would try on Gaultier's dress only two days before the contest, that is why Galit made her an alternative option.
Levy: "The fabric I made the dress from is very expensive, NIS 3000 per meter. It's a very thin iron chain embroidered in crystal beads. If I had sold it, the price would have benn NIS 20 000."

- Now, because it has a historic value, will it return to you or will it stay with Dana as a souvenir?
"I haven't decided yet."

 

A most international girl is going to conquer Europe. A minute before leaving, she reveals the whole truth to the readers of 'Kulanu'. By Moran Regev.

1. I was born: 2.2.1972 in Tel Aviv, Ha-kirya.
2. I looked like: Michael Jackson.
3. Brothers and sisters: Limor (31), Nimrod (29).
4. Kindergarten: Aster, in Bograshov street.
5. Childhood dream: To become a successful singer.
6. My first day in school: Suffering. Strange. I always remembered my first day as a depressive one.
7. My favorite childhood game: Elastic [A kind of a jumping game between elastic ropes - ZG]
8. My favorite childhood song: "Girls just wanna have fun".
9. My favorite song today: "To live" by Corinne Elal.
10. A childhood idol: Ofra Haza.
11. I want to be called: Dana. Just Dana.
12. My favorite food during childhood: Shabbat Jachnun.
13. My favorite food today: Chinese food.
14. A cuddly toy or a doll: I didn't play with all that nonsense. I always liked material things.
15. I want to change in my self: I'm addicted with my work. I breathe my work 24 hours a day and I want to change this attitude a little bit. Be more calm.
16. Character traits that I like in myself: I'm sincere, honest, and know to give warmth and spoil people.
17. Character traits that I don't like in myself: A little bit disturbed. I'm the kind who decides on something and takes it to the bitter end.
18. I like to work on: My album releases. The most enjoyable thing is to record music.
19. My favorite book: ‘The Chemist’.
20. My favorite movie: ‘The Ten Commandments’.
21. My favorite disk: ‘Lula’, a collection of songs.
22. When things are a little sad and it's cold outside, what do I do: I sit in front of the stove, under a quilt.
23. Who should be the PM: That's a hard one. It's should be someone who lives and breathes with the country.
24. When I come home from work I want to: Play with my dog Leri.
25. The name of my best friend: A sister and a friend, Sharon Marche.
26. The first thing I do in the morning: Brush my teeth and put on a cream to calm my skin.
27. My favorite season: Autumn. Because it's in between.
28. I would take to a lonely island: My friend, my dog, everything that makes me smile.
29. My favorite way of spending time: A good movie on television, with a cup of coffee and a good cake.
30. An expression I use a lot: "I want to say that..."
31. My favorite cartoon: Daffy Duck.
32. The character trait I hate the most: Jealousy.
33. The most important character trait in others: Loyalty.
34. What I would like to change in the world: To invent an international language. A whole world that is one single country without borders.
35. Are there UFO's? There must be. God help us if we are the only creatures in the universe.
36. It gets on my nerves when: People lie to me.
37. My favorite place in the world: My mother's home.
38. My favorite place in Israel: Eilat.
39. If I weren't born in the twentieth century, I would want to be born in: The sixteenth century. I would like to live in the court of queen Elizabeth I.
40. The most handsome guy: Brad Pitt.
41. The most beautiful girl: Christy Tralington
42. My favorite clothes: Jeans and t-shirts.
43. Is there life on Mars? No! Who would want to live there?
44. If I weren't a celebrity, I would have been: A business woman.
45. The most disgusting thing in the world: Cockroaches and all other kinds [of insects?]. Everything related to centipede animals.

 

Despite opposition to the idea from some ultra-Orthodox politicians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared yesterday that next year's Eurovision song contest will be held in Jerusalem. By Ha'aretz staff and Itim News Service.

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert (Likud) yesterday strongly criticized his deputy, Haim Miller (United Torah Judaism), for stating the Eurovision song contest would not be held in Jerusalem under any circumstances, declaring emphatically "it is up to me."

"Not everything that chatterbox says is worthy of response. I have the final word in the Jerusalem Municipality. There is not, never was and never will be cultural or political censorship in the Jerusalem Municipality, and the song contest will be held here next year," Olmert asserted.

"Jerusalem hosted the Eurovision 20 years ago, and there is no reason in the world why it should not host it again. We will be happy to cooperate on the matter with the Israel Broadcasting Authority," Olmert added.

At Netanyahu's request, his media adviser Shai Bazak telephoned Tzvika Pik, composer of the winning song "Diva," and conveyed the prime minister's congratulations to him and to the entire cast. "They deserve our congratulations. This is definitely an impressive feat," Netanyahu told reporters. Responding to objections voiced by ultra-Orthodox politicians, Netanyahu stressed he supports hosting next year's song contest in Jerusalem and added, "it will take place."

Meanwhile, MK Avraham Poraz (Shinui) suggested yesterday that the Eurovision be held in Tel Aviv, Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna called for it to be held in Haifa and the director-general of the President's Office, Arieh Shumer, suggested Eilat to host the European song contest.

"Although I know this may look like caving in to the ultra-Orthodox, I suggest the 1999 Eurovision be held not in Jerusalem but in another Israeli city. I believe the best location would be Tel Aviv, the capital of Israeli secular culture," Poraz said, noting that many countries have in the past hosted the Eurovision in cities other than their capital.

President Ezer Weizman expressed his opinion in the public debate yesterday, saying that he believed the Eurovision song contest should be held in Jerusalem but that he himself would not participate in it.

Doron Shmueli, Director-General of the Jubilee Events Committee, said yesterday that the committee would be willing to participate in financing the Eurovision song contest production. This would require extending the committee's mandate, which is due to expire in February 1999. The next Eurovision is scheduled for May 1999.

Singer Dana International, her backup group and the winning song's writers have been invited to the Knesset today, where they will meet with Tourism Minister Moshe Katsav, who will give them "roving ambassador" certificates, in recognition of their victory in the song contest. They will also meet with the head of the Knesset Education Committee, MK Emanuel Zisman.

 

"The Prime Minister doesn't stop singing the song 'Diva' to himself," the communication adviser of the Prime Minister, Shai Bazak, told the author of the song, Yoav Ginai. Netanyahu preferred to congratulate Dana and the authors of the song through his advisor, not directly.

The composer of 'Diva', Tzvika Pik, yesterday criticized Netanyahu who has not invited himself, the lyrics writer and Dana herself for a formal reception in his office. "People who have brought honor and joy to Israel deserve a formal reception by the Prime Minister, and not just congratulations over the phone," said Pik.

Yesterday the Minister of Tourism, Moshe Katzav, welcomed the singer in his office, and even got a kiss from her. "This victory has brought a lot of honor to Israel," Katzav said and presented her with a relief of Jerusalem. He added: "Dana's personal story is not my business but her own only. Anyway, Dana brings a lot of honor and pride to Israel."

When Dana was asked about the resistance of the orthodox about the '99 Eurovision being held in Jerusalem, she said with a smile: "I think I will enter politics." She added, "If it was up to me, I would suggest a compromise proposal: To hold the '99 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is no less important than Jerusalem, and it will be glad to arrange the next Eurovision. When I went to the contest, people told me that my personal story was going to hurt my chances to win, and now they tell me that my personal story is the thing that brought me the victory. I won only because of the performance and the song."

When Dana went back to her car, a lot of fans were waiting for her. Among the fans, there were kippa wearers who came to thank her for Israel’s success. "Her personal story is between her and God. The thing that's really important is the victory," said one of her religious fans.

Dana International will do her first show since her return from the Eurovision next Friday at midnight in the Allenby cinema in Tel Aviv. At first the event was planned for 'The Fifth Element' in Tel Aviv port, but because of the huge demand for invitations, the organizers decided to move the party to a bigger club.

Today Dana will arrive at the Knesset to receive a sign of honor. All the members of the education committee were invited to meet Dana, but the orthodox announced that they would not go. MK Nisim Dahan (Shas) stated: "Dana is no worse than a PLO representative who was allowed to enter the Knesset."

If you long to know the fountain from which two-thirds of Israelis - right, left and center, religious and secular - even Haredim! - draw pride, glory and fortitude in these terrible times of Kulturkampf and growing censorship so cruelly imposed on freedom of creation - it is to Dana International that you must go. Go and join in song with the Divine Diva Dana, as fervently as your tormented spirit allows. And if the forces of reaction - suppressors of all free expression and promoters of intolerance on the basis on nationality, race, religion, and sex - have not yet smothered the last remnant of your conviction that the sun will yet shine again, it is "Diva!" that you must scream out. Draw strength and courage from the stirring heart-and soul-rending words of our new anthem. By Israel Harel.

After having had the melodramatic nationalistic ("We shall build our country, our homeland") and moth-eaten songs crammed down our throats ad nauseum on Memorial Day and Independence Day, this song is what genuinely expresses the unique culture of the new Israel, finally liberated from the phobias of its nationalistic, oppressive and messianic past. And if you are filled with loathing at the hackneyed tunes and melodies, most plagiarized from Russian, Slavic or alternately, Oriental songs, it is for the strains of Zvika Pik that your heart yearns; for an authentic Israeli tune, freed from the artificial chains of a simplistic past - dry, dull, lean of imagination and creativity, devoid of originality.

And from Mount Sinai of Birmingham (where all Israel was on Saturday night; rating: 64 percent, more than twice the rating for Memorial Day and torch-lighting ceremonies) you will receive the song of a new Israel - emancipated and unshackled. And Dana's song, which succeeded in melting the hearts of Israel's foes (after all, racist and political anti-Semitism has, of course, long since ceased to exist. The only kind that remained - until the vote on Diva - discriminated against Jews only in sports and Eurovision contests), will vanquish and prevail over all prejudice and hatred of culture at home. And may it be a balm to your agonized soul.

Together with the courage of Batsheva, may it grant you "security, strength, forbearance and an iron will to suffer any oppressive hand, a shoulder bent to bear a life of filth and abomination, to suffer endlessly, without limit, and without responsibility," as Bialik put it. If you long to know the fountain from which our cultural heroes, copywriters of bells and long johns, draw their moral strength, and label - totally free of any financial, social or political interest, of course - any gimmick or kitsch as Kulturkampf, it is to Netanyahu or Barak that you must go. For they too, in their enlightenment, good taste and discrimination have crowned Dana's achievement "a great victory for the State of Israel."

And if, even after the triumph of light in Birmingham, freedom of creation in Jerusalem remains in darkness, it is to Moshe Katzav, chairman of the ministers' ceremonies committee, that you must raise your eyes. With him, not all is "Popolitica." He, of all people, has managed to overcome fear and trepidation, holding an official reception for the Divine Diva Dana who with her original song, the pinnacle of Israeli culture in the 50 years of its existence, has glorified Israel's name throughout the world. And it has once again been proven that what politicians ruin, by maligning and speaking ill of Israel, our culture (and sports - but that is another ball game) heroes are compelled to amend. And they succeed.

And if you wish to explore the stronghold to which Dan ("Guard! Present Arms!") Tichon whisked away your fondest desire, your lore, your Holy of Holies - it is to the Knesset square you must aim your aspirations. There, at the very spot where Yitzhak Rabin lay in state, where we paid him our last respects, there, at Tichon's recommendation (and authority, as speaker of the Knesset), we will hold next year's Eurovision contest. Indeed, an event worthy of the speaker and the Knesset, and they of it. For out of Tichon shall go forth the law. And the winner will probably hold forth, as did Anwar Sadat and William Jefferson Clinton, before a packed Knesset plenum (Pinny Badash will don shoes, and Raful a tie) and the dignitaries of our country will do whatever it takes to pressure the speaker to get an invitation to the event to be watched by 2 billion viewers.

Because God has not yet taken all our holy spirit, let all oppressed and suffering artists know that the spark of hope that they have granted us through their pure and unselfish struggle is what has made this dawn of persecuted and victimized Israeli culture break forth with light. Valiant and intrepid warriors, humble and self-effacing that you are, our heart bleeds for the ignominious exploitation you have suffered at the hands of a hard-hearted and wicked establishment. Not only have you been silenced, but you have been robbed of your income - your very livelihood - on the flimsy and pious pretext of guarding "the public coffers." But you, our artists, so eminent in your devotion - and talent - scorned your robbers. Indeed, hatred of greed did not dry up the fountain of your artistic talent. And may your names be glorified for ever and ever.

 

Singer Dana International caused a ruckus in the lobby of the Knesset yesterday when she arrived in the building to attend a meeting of the Education and Culture Committee. Hordes of waiting photographers rushed to take pictures of the Eurovision song contest winner, knocking over a large flowerpot and several people who were in their way. By Dalia Shehori, Ha'aretz Correspondent.

MK Avraham Ravitz (United Torah Judaism), witnessing the commotion, said "this is the height of the sub-culture of primitive modernism." MK David Azoulay (Shas), who walked out of the committee meeting before the singer's arrival, said, "I do not wish to meet a hermaphrodite who brings no honor."

Committee Chairman Emanuel Zisman (The Third Way) was responsible for the invitation to International. Zisman greeted her and the writers of her winning song, Tzvika Pik and Yoav Ginai, saying they had helped "elevate the spirits and boost the national morale of the Israeli people." Zisman said that the song's success in the contest was not only due to Dana's voice, but also to her "charm and charisma." He added that millions of people across Europe voted for the song to show their support for the freedom of culture and art in Israel.

International, clearly enjoying the spotlight, added her two cents on the importance of freedom of expression. "It is very upsetting to see that there are so many people trying to stop the celebrations," she said. "I did not expect such harsh responses."

The victorious singer reiterated her joy at winning the annual Europe-wide contest, adding "this is not my victory as an individual, but our victory as a people and a cultural victory for the state of Israel." She called on the Education and Culture Committee "not to allow extremist groups to interfere with the freedom of expression and democracy in Israel. If there is no democracy, there will be no Israel."

Labor MK Yael Dayan, chairman of the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women, also congratulated International. "This is an achievement for civil liberties and human rights, above and beyond the song's achievement," she said.

 

The singer received a royal treatment when she arrived at the Knesset for a meeting with the education committee in order to get a sign of respect for her victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. Dana: "It's not my victory, but ours as a nation."

At 11:20 the hysteria in the Parliament House reached its peak. The leaders of the Knesset guard gave their orders, ushers became tense, and the majority of the Knesset workers left their offices and went to the entrance. And then, with a royal entry with Ofer Nisim and Shai Kerem by her side, Dana International walked up, accompanied by two ushers of the Knesset guard and a regiment of photographers, and entered the Parliament building.

Teeming with smiles and self confidence, dressed in tight jeans and a white t-shirt, Dana arrived for a meeting with the education committee, who had invited her in order to give her a sign of respect for her victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. The excitement was huge, and almost everyone wanted to get close to the star. First the workers of the Knesset, who abandoned their offices for one hour in the hope to see Dana, and maybe even to be photographed with her, then all the reporters, the photographers and the television teams - and finally the members of the Knesset. In contrast to them, the orthodox and religious MKs hurried to shut themselves up in their rooms.

But the beginning of the visit was slightly difficult. Dana was detained by the entrance of the Knesset because she had forgotten her identity card, and the assistant of MK Imanuel Zisman was forced to run around and sweat in order to calm down the Knesset guard and arrange for her entry.

Eventually, Dana arrived peacefully for her meeting with the committee. MK Eli Gabai (Mafdal) managed to leave the meeting before she entered. After he left, Dana could enjoy all the love and praises imparted by the members of the committee. MK Yael Dayan embraced and kissed her, and MK Zisman, who gave Dana an album, announced: "We see this as an achievement not only because of the song, but also because of your charm and charisma."

"It's very sad for me to hear that some people in this country are trying to put and end to this big joy," Dana answered. "I'm happy that I have achieved this wonderful thing, but this is not my victory, it’s ours as a nation. There is another Israel. One should not allow extremist groups to interfere with the freedom of expression and democracy in Israel. If there is no democracy, there will be no Israel."

Afterwards Dana went to the chamber of the Knesset chairman where MK Meir Shitrit waited for her for a much more quiet meeting. Exactly at that moment, the orthodox MKs started to get out of the rooms and they entered at the beginning of the visit.

 

No matter how alienated from his religion, it was a rare Eastern European Jew who would ever publicly repudiate his religion in front of gentiles. Our history is replete with stories of those who passed all their lives as non-Jews and yet, when the Jews of their town were rounded up for the slaughter, stepped forward to declare that they too were Jewish. By Jonathan Rosenblum.

Today we who so pride ourselves on our independence abase ourselves in front of the rest of the world. We publicly spit on the religion of our fathers and gleefully declare our contempt. Homosexual activists boast on TV, "We are the generation of the flood," the generation that broke all barriers of perversity.

In our first military confrontation, shortly after the exodus from Egypt, Amalek, the arch-enemy of the Jewish people, the supreme denier of God in history, cut off the sign of the covenant of Abraham from slain Jews and flung it toward heaven as proof that there is no covenant and no God.

Today Amalek is within, and it is Jews themselves who proclaim to the world that we have put behind us the old superstitious religion. They declare that all barriers to unbridled freedom have fallen.

The nation has lost its head. Yossi Sarid and Yitzhak Levy join hands in celebrating Dana International's victory and the honor it has brought to Israel and Israeli song. Levy, stung by the suggestion, after the Batsheva Dance Troupe fiasco, that a rabbi can't be with-it enough, progressive enough, to serve as minister of culture, hurries to show how hip he is, how unfazed by transvestites and transsexuals.

He still dreams of currying secular favor by distancing himself from the haredim, and imagines that the new paganism is not as contemptuous of his kind as of the haredim. And thus does the leader of the party of Land of Israel worship celebrate the descent into abomination in a land that spits out abomination.

Rather that being buoyed by the affection of Europe, we should ask ourselves precisely what honor has been conferred upon us and why. Consciously or unconsciously, Europeans honor us for having refuted Jewish claims of moral superiority and chosenness.

Christian and pagan antisemites have always hated the Jew as bearer of God's moral message to humanity: Christians because they believe themselves to have supplanted Jews as God's chosen; pagans because they despise morality. Church-sanctioned pogroms and the civic degradation of Jews throughout the ages were designed to demonstrate to us that we had lost divine favor. Our continued existence and obstinate retention of our faith in the face of such proofs only testified in the eyes of the gentile world to our exceptional perverseness.

Nietzsche recognized the Jews as the source of morality, and condemned us for having drained the pagan world of its Dionysian power. Hitler, the arch pagan, followed Nietzsche. He ranted that the Jews had inflicted two wounds on the world: mercy for the downtrodden and circumcision. Nazi propaganda films portrayed Jews as a horde of rats transformed into hassidim. Hitler's Jew hatred was synonymous with hatred of a religion that charged its adherents to be holy because "I, the Lord, your God, am holy."

Today, however, neither pagans nor Christians need trouble themselves any longer with the Jews. We have declared ourselves pagans, celebrants of any form of sexual license and chic androgyny; we have turned those among us who continue to believe in God into objects of scorn and ridicule.

Once antisemites portrayed us as sexual libertines and perverts to undermine our moral authority. Today we cheerfully admit the charge and imagine ourselves beloved by the world for it.

Are we and our culture similarly honored when a CNN documentary claims that we have the highest rate of prostitution in the world? Is it homage that Newsweek offers in photographs depicting well-heeled matrons watching male strippers in posh north Tel Aviv living rooms? Will the prostitutes and strippers also be invited to perform in the Knesset for having brought us favor in the eyes of the nations?

For 2,000 years, Jews prayed to return to this land. For what? So that we could fill it with every rite practiced by the pagans who inhabited it before us? So that we could express our hatred of God as loudly as possible and pat ourselves on the back that the nations have noticed?

Is this the new definition Israel has given to Jewish pride?

 

On one of the many tv programs dealing with Dana International's victory (I don't remember which) somebody (I don't remember who) expressed surprise over the fact that such a conservative society as ours could adopt such a figure to its bosom.

In truth, however, it's not so surprising. It is precisely conservative societies that respond to performances of a carnivalesque nature that give release from their tensions and allow them to realize a lot of their most repressed fantasies -- an integral part of any self-respecting conservatism. Transexuality fulfills this function in a particularly effective and extravagant way, since it contains elements of the freak show and underlines the aspects of false appearances and disguise of the fantasies that trouble the sleep of conservatism. The embracing of Dana International is no different from the appreciation Israeli society reveals lately for drag shows, from The Daughters of Pesiah ["Bnot Pesiah", a group of four drag queens who do political satire on the weekend prime time popular talk show -- GM] to the "Polish ladies" of Zehu Zeh [another popular satirical program with a spot where the actors dress up like gossipy Polish aunties -- GM], that have penetrated without any problem the frame of prime time television and fulfill a similar liberating function.

Transexuality threatens a conservative society much less than homosexuality because is contains an element of illusion and false pretense, and the acceptance of Dana International by the establishment, accordingly, only strengthens it and does not subvert it. "We're all liberals" said Geula Even [Channel 1's Anchorwoman -- GM], in what I hope was irony concerning the news item that over half the public is proud of International's victory. This false liberalism shows just how conservative we really are. International herself, with her statements concerning her traditional lifestyle and references to God, collaborates with this conservatism with an expertise that is either naive or ironic; it's hard to tell, but this is already her own private matter.

The members of the gay community, friends and relatives celebrated with Dana International on Friday at a glimmering party. By Amir Kaminer.

The celebrations around Dana International's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest reached its peak Friday night at a glimmering party, crowded and sexy, on the occasion of the exciting achievement.

After she had conquered the stage of the Eurovision and the Knesset, Miss International took control of another giant - Allenby 58 cinema, considered by lots of people to be the most blazing and up-to-date club in Israel, and received a great honor. Dana was put in the DJ booth, and thanked the guests that crowded the site: more than 15,000 fans, friends, relatives, the members of the delegation to the Eurovision, singers, celebrities and the representatives of the gay and lesbian community.

"I did it for you. I brought you pride," Dana announced with gleaming eyes, and the audience shouted in joy. "Thanks to all those who believed in me, thanks to my personal manager Ofer Nisim, and thanks to all of you for everything." It was possible to feel that Dana was very excited in her home field, surrounded by people who have supported her even since the beginning of her career. Her excitement became stronger when a splendid and exciting present was presented to her: Dana's transsexuals friends said that her victory made them "feel between the clouds, and to sense an esprit de corps". They had collected several thousand Shekels, and bought her an expensive piece of jewelry, inlaid with diamonds.

In the picture we see Dana and her personal manager Ofer Nisim in the background of a huge stage, above it the name of the winning song 'Diva' is shown.

 

I have a close friend who grew up in the American Midwest. She went to a public school where the other students used to throw pennies at her as she'd walk down the hall. She had done nothing, but she was a Jew. By Lisa Kahn.

To this day, she's terrified of letting anyone see her as different. The most awful part of it was knowing that there was nothing she could do about it. Nothing except to deny being Jewish and pretend to be a non-Jew. It was tempting for her. There are people who do that. But we call them assimilationists and have very little respect for them.

Which makes it all the more strange when Jews, who have been victimized for millennia for no other crime than being different, demand of others that they do the same thing.

I am an Orthodox Jew. Not an ultra-liberal Orthodox Jew, mind you, but a serious, frum Jew. And I cannot for the life of me understand why gay and lesbian Jews are treated the way they are by so many Orthodox Jews. The Torah does not condemn homosexuality. It does not even condemn all homosexual acts.

If gays and lesbians are to be condemned because some of them engage in acts prohibited by the Torah, then anyone who eats meat should be condemned because some people eat non-kosher meats.

It was with a feeling almost of despair that I read Jonathan Rosenblum's "For this we yearned?" (May 15). I am normally a great fan of Rosenblum's columns. It is a pleasure to read someone who has the courage to stand up for Torah Judaism and Torah values the way he does.

But I was shocked to find him comparing gay and lesbian Jews to Amalekites and pagans and prostitutes. Reading the contemptuous tone of his column reminded me of my friend, walking through the school halls and trying not to cry as the pennies came flying at her through the air.

Are there gays and lesbians who preach nothing but license? Who have exchanged the Torah that is the lifeblood of our people for the empty slogan of "If it feels good, do it?" Of course there are. But it is precisely the attitude displayed by Rosenblum that is to blame for much of that.

Can I tell my rabbi that I am looking for another Orthodox woman to share my life with? Can I tell my friends and neighbors and the people I know from synagogue? Would they help me find a partner? More likely they'd ask me to find somewhere else to daven.

With that kind of rejection as a "reward" for living in the Orthodox community, is it any wonder that so many homosexual Jews find their way to the movements that reject Jewish law?

Rosenblum rails against taking pride in Dana International's Eurovision victory. Why? Because the singer is a transsexual? Does Rosenblum honestly think that anyone would choose such a thing? Why is this particular thing of such horror to him?

Is being a transsexual, or being gay, worse in Rosenblum's estimation than violating Shabbat in public?

I am proud to be a Jew. I am proud to be a lesbian. Neither of these were a matter of choice, and both have lost me friends and made my life more difficult than it needed to be, but both have also brought me great joy.

I am tempted to spit on the anti-gay bigots in the same way I refuse to waste my breath arguing with antisemites, but I expect more from fellow Jews, especially fellow Torah Jews, and so I write this.

I am not speaking merely to Jonathan Rosenblum, but to every Jew who has shunned another Jew for no "crime" other than being gay.

To every Jew who has made rude jokes about gays and lesbians at work without considering that the person next to them may be gay, and is just afraid of subjecting themselves to that kind of mockery.

We are not an "outside" phenomenon. We are not sick and not perverted. We are of you and with you and deserve the same respect that you want for yourselves.

Try and learn to make the appropriate distinction between righteous indignation against Jews who have abandoned in the Torah and your personal feelings of discomfort from those of us who differ from you in this way. As Rosenblum pointed out, we are the bearers of God's moral message to humanity. Don't let blind hatred and xenophobia be a part of that message.

[Lisa Kahn is the pen name of a computer professional living in the Jerusalem area. This article is in response to a piece by Jonathan Rosenblum, For this we yearned?, also published in the Jerusalem Post. (See above.)]

 

Dana International lives in a crazy rhythm. Since the Eurovision Song Contest she has been running around all over Europe, has been signing fat contracts, and has been interviewed in all the prestige programs. This week, she returned for a very short visit to Israel. Dana is exhausted: "I haven't found out yet how to enjoy the success." By Tal Pery.

It has been less than a month since the victory in the Eurovision with the song 'Diva', and Dana International is tired. In Birmingham, England, a day before the victory, Dana spoke about her mental need for a long vacation in order to relax from half a year of preparations and rehearsals for the contest. Today Dana is much less naive. She found out the hard way, that the hard part in the race for the top is still in front of her. These days she is staying in Israel for a very short visit after an intensive public relations campaign of two weeks in Europe in order to promote the sales of the single 'Diva'. Next Tuesday, she will take off again to France, and will land right into the cameras of a prestige talk-show, where she will be interviewed with the fashion tycoon Jean Paul Gaultier who designed her famous features dress for the Eurovision. She is supposed to stay in Europe for five more weeks with her personal managers Ofer Nisim and Shai Kerem. Dana is aware of the fact that she is living a crazy rhythm, a difficult one which demands from her that she sleep every night in a new hotel, running around between airports, meeting the majors in the European music industry every day, smiling being and polite and answer countless questions in interviews for newspapers, radio stations, and television.

Since the victory in the Eurovision, Dana hasn't given any interviews to the Israeli media. At this stage, all her attention is focused on the planned career in Europe. The results in the area proves that the effort is bearing fruit. Dana has signed a contract with the huge record company Sony, which these days is releasing the English version of 'Diva' in Europe, a single that has sold more than 100,000 copies in 8 different countries. The music video of the song, filmed and directed in Israel, is being broadcast with very high frequency on MTV. Formally, the single will be released in England only next week.

Miri Ben-Haim, Dana's PR representative: "The amount of turns and offers that Dana has been receiving since the Eurovision is unbelievable. Dana wants to give interviews to the Israeli media, but her schedule does not make it possible. She is in a new country every day, and this is only Europe. She has already gotten offers from Japan. The contract she signed with Sony is called 'an artist contract'. It's not a contract for one album, like is common today. Sony believes in Dana in the long term. Sony hasn't signed anyone under such conditions since Mariah Carey."

- So the direction now is a new album abroad?
"Absolutely. Her schedule is focused on work abroad the few next months. At the first stage she will complete what she has been doing since her victory in the Eurovision - public relations relating to 'Diva' that includes interviews and television shows. The next stage will be recording new material in English and a concert tour."

But for this success there is also a heavy mental price. In an interview Dana gave early this week to the Dutch daily newspaper 'Telegraf', the interviewer described the singer as 'exhausted'. Dana does not deny this. "After the victory in the Eurovision I was still talking about a month's vacation in New-York," she said in the interview. "I felt I needed that rest, but it was made clear that it would be impossible. A lot of offers from Europe started to arrive, and we had to discard all private plans and think how to answer positively to as many offers as we could. You see, that was the final goal."

She has been asked again and again about the controversies that accompanied the decision to send her as the representative of Israel to the Eurovision. "I proved to everyone that the winner is always right," she says, but she admits that even today, after the victory in the Eurovision made her an admirable figure in Israel, she regularly gets threatening letters from extreme factions. "I don't want to go into detail about from whom and what exactly is written there," she says, "but the threats continue to arrive. I have already become used to living with both death threats and letters of congratulations, and the best way to deal with it is to just go on. Anyway, with my schedule, I don't think I will have the time to worry."

At a certain stage, international success is supposed to translate into big money. To Dana and her managers, there is still no clear idea when and in what amounts the money will start to flow, but it seems that it will take a few more months until the sales of 'Diva' will become swollen bank accounts. For now, the success is translated mainly into limousines in airports, prestige rooms in hotels and business class flights.

"I haven't found out yet how to enjoy the success," she said in the interview. "I live in such a crazy life rhythm, so I don't have time for it either. Only a few days ago I was in the Netherlands and I was filmed for a television show with Paul Dyleo (The most successful talk-show interviewer in the Netherlands - TP). A few hours after the ending of the filming I was already on a flight for my next destination. I haven't even managed to see the result or get any reactions. This is the way my life is like these days."

The moment of the victory has been repressed by her. "I do not remember the three minutes on the stage. I was in shock, and during the voting I was in a kind of paralysis of the senses. Even after it was announced formally that I was the winner, I didn't comprehend anything. I have waited all this time for someone to come up to me and say that there was a mistake, that I didn't actually win. I expect to wake suddenly and find out everything was just a dream."

The Dutch interviewer is interested in whether Dana intends to use the political power that suddenly fell to her hands after the reactions to her victory in the future, and enter formally into politics. "In Israel," she explains, "If you decide to be politically active, you will have to be ready for half the nation to be with you, and the other half will hate you. I do not see myself entering politics. Even when I have something to say, I always make an effort to do it in general terms and not blame certain factions. My message is cosmopolitan. I wanted to be a successful singer and I have succeeded in becoming one. I believe that if someone really wants to do something, he will succeed to do it eventually, on the condition that other people won't be hurt by it. This is the message I want to be identified with."

Dana's personal life is planned so far by the career altar. "I don't have time for any deeper relations with men, and anyway I feel to young to commit to something like it," she says. "I live with a guy who is my childhood friend, like my brother. Moreover I see myself sunk in my career, at least for the foreseeable future.

Dana's next single to be released in the European market will probably be the song "Cinque milla" from her third album. This song is only one of Dana's international songs that were recorded before her big victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. The recordings of Dana's first international album are not supposed to start before the end of '98. Her worldwide calendar is becoming more and more packed, and in this rhythm it seems that the name International more fiting for her than ever.

 

Say what you will about the dress with the feathers and the operation, but Dana International is really good at what she does. However, if you were as thrilled by Israel's recent Eurovision triumph as I was and you're waiting with bated breath for her next release, be warned: It may take a while. Dana and her handlers have said they'd rather lose a little Eurovision momentum than churn out an album with undue haste. By Emily Hauser.

Along comes Ha-osef (The Collection) to save the day. This compilation of 17 of Dana's best-known tracks goes a long way toward providing that good PR and a gimmick can only open the door in entertainment. You need talent to walk through and succeed. And Dana's got it.

With a broad wink toward anyone who'd dare take anything too seriously, the singer brings a strong voice and a sense of show to the world of dance music, creating tracks which should get anyone but the most dour music fan on their feet - starting with the absolutely fun, if somewhat nonsensical, "Diva."

From there, Ha'osef winds through such marvels as "Cinquemilla," "100% Gever" ("100% Man") and "Yeshnan Banot" ("There Are Girls") - a silly piece of accordion-backed fluff with a feminist twist: "There are girls... who'll go out with anyone/ If they see a cute guy, they'll fly to Eilat ..../ But I'm not like that, I'm not like that/ If I'm not sure of someone, I won't go as far as the Yarkon".

Is it important, world-changing? No, but it is a lot of fun. And these days, indulging one's secret love of flamboyant dance music is even an act of national pride. All I have to say to Dana is: You go, girl!

 

Dana International has done another amazing achievement. Believe it or not, but it has been a little bit more than one year since she made us the promise that one day we would see her on MTV.

Last week, Dana showed in a very special program, Select MTV. Dana is the first Israeli singer invited to that program. The clip of 'Diva' has been one of the most wanted clips in the last few weeks, and these days our International is starring in almost every program on MTV. Wednesday she was interviewed by one of the most popular shows on MTV - Select.

Dana spoke about the Eurovision, and the contest with the other countries. She emphasized the importance of the contest which unites all the European countries. She also spoke about her success in Israel and the Arabic countries, and even sent a message to the latter: "I don't care about them. We have enough desert in Israel!" Dana was also filmed for the weekend edition of MTV news. This, of course, is a huge step for Dana, who since her victory in the Eurovision Song Contest has become a world celebrity.

In a few days, Dana in going to be filmed for the show 'Questions and Answers' on CNN. This is one of the important programs on CNN, and on it watchers from different countries can call and ask questions to the guest. An unprecedented achievement.

It has been less than two months since her victory, and Dana is the hottest commodity in Europe. Although Dana told the media she wants to rest after the Eurovision, it seems that neither she nor Ofer Nisim, her personal manager, are willing to miss this opportunity. Dana is now giving a lot of interviews all over Europe in order to promote her international career.

 

Dana International showed yesterday on a prestigious interviews program on CNN, and delivered a perfect show. "Maybe our Prime Minister is homosexual too, and we just didn't know about it?" the singer asked as a reaction to a question about her connection with the gay community in the program ‘Questions and Answers’ on CNN, which was devoted exclusively to her after her victory in the Eurovision Song Contest.

"But what's the difference?" the singer added on the same topic. "You can be a homosexual and a good person. We must forget about color, religion and gender, and accept a human beings like they are. Homosexuals are great people, the most liberal ones. They understand me the best."

For half an hour Dana was in the CNN London studio to answer questions from all Europe - Croatia, Sweden, Poland, Slovenia, Holland and even Jordan - and she amazed people with her fluent language and her control of English. She answered the questions confidently, with fluency, and even joyfully at some.

Between other things, she was asked about the offer she had got to join the Spice Girls. "Someone from the band’s PR people got in touch me and offered me to make an audition. I told him that I was willing to accept his offer only if he would give me £ 25 000 000. I don't need to be too rich. I will be satisfied with much less in order to be happy. I prefer to do my stuff, which is different from the Spice Girls’. I want a career of my own."

- What do you think about the dispute about the hosting the Eurovision in Jerusalem?
"I don't care if it is in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Haifa or Eilat. We have great cities in Israel. If the orthodox oppose it, I don't care that if it’s not in Jerusalem, as long as it will be in Israel."

- Do you see yourself as a Jew?
"To the most of the orthodox I’m not a cause for ant problem. Only the extremist orthodox have problems with me. They are dangerous. I do not represent the Jewish people, but the whole multi-colored population of Israel, including Arabs and Christians."

No doubt, A perfect international show.

 

Now it's already clear: For the first time in our country’s history, one of ours is going to conquer the world. Since her victory in the Eurovision, Dana International has become a major international brand name, and the interest in her is unprecedented in international terms. This week, 'Diva' entered the British chart directly at 11th, but as opposed to other Israeli breakthrough attempts, this time the fate of the project does not depend on the song's success. Sony company, which is promoting Dana's affairs, expect a shining future for her - and takes care of her accordingly.

Now, coming up is Dana's first international album, and names that connected to it are the legendary producers Nile Rodgers and Patrick Leonard [Madonna’s co-songwriter], Robin Williams from 'Take That' (she will record a duet with him) and Elton John, who will probably write a new song for her. In addition to that, she has received a new offer from the Beegees. The future cannot be more pink. In perfect timing, at the end of Gay Pride Week, 'Tarbut Ma'ariv' is doing a salute to the Israeli cultural hero, Dana International, and we offer her marriage. Dana is ours!!! By Tal Peri.

Sunday evening, the new British sales chart was published, and the international battle calls of Dana International that were first heard at the Eurovision song contest sounded stronger than ever. The single 'Diva' went straight in at 11. A fact that translates to sales of 50,000 copies for one week. Add the more than 150,000 copies sold in other parts of Europe before the British single was released, and you get an idol in the making.

Dana’s exploits in Europe since the Eurovision song contest have been broadly covered, and the one who misses the current news in the newspapers, gets her key quoted on CNN: “Maybe my prime minister is gay too?” However, there is no doubt that the high entry in England was the peak of Dana’s international promotion tour until now. The British chart is considered to be the most influential one: If you have made it there, you can make it all over the world.

Just for an historical perspective: The last Israeli artist to be been in the British chart was ‘Ofra Haza, in 1991. She was a guest vocalist on the song 'The love temple' of the Sisters Of Mercy. The song got to third place in the chart. Haza, did not really sing on it, she was only doing back-up vocals. In 1988 she reached number 15 in the British chart with ‘Im nin'alu’; in 1968 Avi and Ester Ofarim got to the first place with ‘Cinderella Rockefeller’ and in 1979 Gali Atari ‘Hallelujah’ was fifth. In other words: It has been 19 years since an Israeli artist succeeded to get into the British chart with an original song written by Israeli songwriters, and to penetrate the gates of the British chart.

"It's an amazing achievement", says Yoav Ginai, the writer of the song. "Do you know how difficult it is for a foreign artist to get in the British chart? And not only that, the song is in a non-European language, it's unbelievable!"

Dana, of course, spent her week - like all her time since winning - in Europe. Her managers, ‘Ofer Nisim and Shai Kerem, were in Israel. This is the first time since the beginning of the race to the Eurovision that they separate their forces. Kerem: "Dana is never alone. When we knew that we were going to return to Israel, we sent a good friend of Dana’s to be with her. There is always someone she knows beside her, because the stress she faces is enormous. Personally, I am proud of her. I really don't know if I could deal with so much stress".

Nisim: "We have to become used to the fact that in the future there will be situations where Dana will have to do one thing and we will have to do another thing. We won't be together everywhere. For that, there is a huge team of people working with Sony, who care for her and organize every step in her schedule. Those are super professional people, who believe she is going to be the hottest new hit in Europe, and they treat her accordingly. What we have to do is mainly to filter all the tasks they want us to do. An average day of ours in Europe begins with a list of 40 things that Sony wants us to do, from those we filter 20 that we are willing to try, in order to manage to do at least 10 of them. Dana is very busy right now doing PR, and I have to start working on her new material, which is supposed to be included on her first international album with Sony. I am supposed to return to Europe with a sketch that will be Dana's next single".

- Which song is it going to be?
"A new song. It doesn't have a name yet, but our goal in this stage is to concentrate on something very melodic, that will emphasize Dana's vocal qualities. At Sony, they like all Dana’s crazy things, like 'Cinque-milla' , and they want to let that side be expressed on the new album, but first we have to sell her as a good singer. Because of that we are in touch with Elton John, who will write a new song for her."

- Where do things stand on this?
Kerem: "Regarding the Elton John song, Sony is running the negotiations with him. Dana is now getting offers from a lot of big names in the music industry who want to cooperate with her, but in the case of Elton John we were the ones to turn to him, and Sony has the right connections. As far as we have understood from them, the chances are very good. If there any problems, they would already have told us. He has worked with RuPaul, the most famous drag-queen in the world, so can you imagine him saying no to Dana International?"

- You mentioned big names, give me some examples.
"The producer Nile Rogers, who worked with Madonna on 'Like a Virgin' and with David Bowie on 'Let's dance', approached Sony and wants to meet with Dana. He believes we can do something together, and next week we are going to have a first meeting. She is going to record a duet with Robin Williams, who was a part of Take That, for her next album. The freshest offer is from the BeeGees. They are starting to produce a new tribute album of their old songs, and they want Dana to participate."

- Who is going to write and produce Dana's next album?
Nisim: "We have had few meetings with Paul Berger, the chairman of Sony. He believes in Dana till the end and gives us a free hand. The goal is that most of the songs will be original from our side, mine and Dana's. And this is a huge trust shown by the man who signed Céline Dion. Who will produce the album is not clear yet. But like we said, we are talking very big names. Me and Dana are going to be active partners in every side of the production process."
Kerem: "We are not ruling out the possibility of turning to Israeli songwriters to ask for songs. That could be a great opportunity to show to the world that we have great talent here."

- Did you expect her high entry in the British chart?
"In a way, yes. They told us few days ago to prepare for taping Top of the Pops, it's a TV show that only hosts artists in the top 20, so we had some expectations. I admit that we had a big fear of the British public, because they are such a hard audience and very suspicious to foreign artists. But the reactions to Dana were hysterical everywhere. Two weeks ago we were under so much stress to do a show, and finally we organize something in a huge gay club in London, and it was an unbelievable experience. 3000 people squeezed in for one show, and 3000 more went home without tickets. Paul Berger was with us at the club and he said that he had not seen a thing like that for years."

 

This week Dana International is staring out from the cover of the popular London magazine ‘Time Out’. This is another victory for our International : "Time Out" is one of the most famous and popular London magazine. It's the local ‘Bible’ for everything people can do in this town - theater, cinema, entertainment, music, dance - and a lot of tourists and Londoners don't go anywhere without it. Which means a cover interview in it, that's a huge sales promotion.

In the big interview Dana is represented as pop's first sex change pin-up. Dana told to interviewer Paul Braston that she hopes to conquer England. "The English market is the determining one. If you succeed in Germany, it doesn't mean you will succeed any other places. But if you succeed in England, you will conquer all of Europe."

And what does she think about London? "Until now, nothing. Until now I have only seen you, the bed, and the window. It's saddening for me. I have been in seven countries in 12 days, and all I see is airports and airplanes."

Dana is also very popular in the advertising world these days. Huge companies like 'Diesel', 'Benetton' and 'Walla' are interested in hiring her and have offered her to star in their advertisements. Similar offers have come from a net magazine from Portugal and a food producer in the Netherlands.

In addition, our Rome correspondent reports that Klaus Duai, one of the biggest advertisers in Italy, has announced that the company is going to offer Dana an account equalling NIS 2 million for her to star in an advertising campaign for underwear.

 

Dana International was in court yesterday, this time because of a lawsuit presented by the record company Helicon. International, with a permanent smile, decided to come to this discussion although it's a civil suit, and she was not obliged to come.

Helicon records sues Dana for NIS 1 million - the total damage they will face if Dana produces an album that contains a collection of her songs with another record company. In the suit that was presented by Helicon records, it was claimed that a year ago, Dana International and her personal manager signed a recording contract valid until the end of 2000. Helicon claims that Dana is bound by contract to record new songs only through the company. Benjamin Berbach and Yoav Prochtman, Helicon's lawyers, claim that Dana has broken the contract because Dana has negotiated contacts with foreign record companies the last few months, in order to sign with them to release her new album. Helicon also claims that the contract between Dana and Helicon was prolonged when the record company was conducting negotiations between her and a foreign record company - 'Valentine' from Singapore.

Dana International, who is represented by the lawyers Menachem Gilbert and Shlomit Erlich, claims that there was no breach of contract, as she and Ofer had only signed a memorandum with Helicon that had already run out. Helicon does not have the rights on her recordings and she can be connected to any other record company. According to Dana’s claim, Helicon didn't treat her as a top league artist before she won the Eurovision Song Contest - unlike the treatment given to the other artists who have signed with Helicon records. Since her victory, Helicon saw that Dana was making a lot of money and they wanted "to ride on the wave of her success, and to use her without the right to do so."

‘Ofer Nisim, Dana's personal manager, told us yesterday: "The subject is still being discussed in court, and because of that I don't want to comment."

 

Another achievement for Dana International: She has been invited by the famous fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who designed the Eurovision dress for her, to star in his autumn display in Paris on 19 July.

Dana and Gaultier met last week in a British television program, and concluded that Dana would participate in two scenes. One by herself, and one with the super model Naomi Campbell. Gaultier will present his haute couture, meaning clothes that are made only according to measure. The international designer will sew a special dress for the Israeli singer, and her show will end the display.

The personal managers of Dana International, Ofer Nisim and Shai Kerem, told us "The money matter is not important here, the matter of the prestige of the event is."

Jean-Paul Gaultier is planning to visit Israel pretty soon. The famous designer wants to stay here a few days as Dana's personal guest, and as a special guest at a fashion display in Israel.

 

The prestigious fashion show that Dana was supposed to show in, is held on a day of a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the expulsion of French Jews by the Nazis.

The event provoked a lot of anger among the France Jewry, and Dr. Simon Samuels from the Wiesenthal centre told us this weekend that he had sent a letter to Dana's agent in Tel-Aviv and asked him to brief the singer on the subject, and ask her to reconsider her participation.

Samuel told that he wants to believe that Dana didn't know that the ceremony would be held at the same date as Gaultier’s fashion show.

The people of the centre Simon Wiesenthal also sent a letter to the offices of the famous fashion designer Gaultier, where he was asked to respect the sensitivity of the subject. Yesterday, the management of the singer, the winner of the Eurovision, announced that she canceled her show at Gaultier’s fashion display.

The commemorative ceremony, which will be held on the 19th of this month, marks the 36th anniversary of the expulsion of 13 000 French Jews who were arrested and sent to the concentration and death camps by the Nazis in 1942.

The ceremony will be held in the stadium where the victims were assembled before they were transferred to Auschwitz.

 

The singer Dana International will go this weekend to London to take part in a tribute album to the work of the legendary pop band the Beegees. The members of the band, which was a huge hit in the 60s and the 70s, invited Dana to record her own version of the hit 'Woman In Love' which was formerly performed by Barbra Streisand. In the album, 14 of the biggest hits of the band will be included in new versions by Robbie Williams, Boyzone, Cleopatra and others.

The album will be released in next Christmas, but before that, in September, Dana will sing her version in a special show with the Beegees in the 'Wembley' stadium in London.

Another offer, which the Israeli is now considering, has come from the old movie producer Elliot Kastner, who has produced huge movies with Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Mickey Rourke, Dennis Quaid, Al Pachino and others. Dana is offered the lead feminine role in a romantic comedy, an American-French production.

Miri Ben Haim, Dana's public relations woman told us: "It's a very interesting offer. Dana will get the script pretty soon and then she will decide. In any case, It's very flattering.

Before Dana's trip to London, she will go to Sweden to participate in the popular talk show 'Stina'. Mo'ammar Qadhafi, Michael Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Tom Hanks, David Bowie and Cher are a short list of some of the celebrities who have participated in the 'Stina' show.

After recording in London, Dana will take part in the opening ceremony of the 'Gay Games' in Amsterdam.

 

The city Stockholm was conquered this weekend by thousands of homosexuals and lesbians, who made a crowded happening while singing and dancing in the centre of the city. Our International stole the show at the carnival. By Elyahu Zehavi.

The movement of the buses in the city was disrupted because of the march that lasted many hours, and the local police showed strength because of a fear of demonstrations by orthodox and neo-Nazi groups. However, without a smidgen of doubt the show was stolen by the Israeli singer, Dana International, whose show closed off the eight day festival. It seems that the winner of the Eurovision has become a symbol in the gay community of a human being who dared to go out against all the conventions. A symbol for pride and freedom.

Dana, in heavy make-up and with a new hairstyle, was interviewed in all the media and told that even in Israel, like in Sweden, homosexuals and lesbians live open lives, despite the threats from the fanatical orthodox. At a huge press conference, Dana caused amazement when she declared: "I'm mad about the Sweden blond guys, and this evening, I am going to go out and hunt a blond guy for myself."

In the EuroPride Festival, more than 15 thousands marchers passed through the streets of Stockholm, among them members of parliament, ministers and famous artists. The participants in the gay demonstration were in cars or marched in the streets dressed in colorful clothes.

The culture attache of the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, Liza Oved, told the reporters yesterday that Dana functions as a very good ambassador to Israel, and gives a lot of honor to her country.

At the beginning of next week, Dana will honor the opening ceremony of the 'Gay Games' - the pink Olympiad that will be held in Amsterdam - with her presence. In all the poster advertising it, the name of la International tops the list of the names of the participants, and huge posters of her are already put up all over the city with the headline: "Gay rights are human rights."

 

The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest did a show in front of 40 000 spectators, among them the Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kook. By Amit Bar.

In an impressive parade of friendship and amity, and in front of 40 000 participants, the 'Gay Games' were opened yesterday in Harina stadium in Amsterdam.

The show 'was stolen' by the singer Dana International who was presented to the exciting audience by the famous fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. "She definitely deserves douze points," he said, and the audience went wild.
Dana - who wore a tight, long, black and shining Gaultier dress - opened the show with the song 'My name is not Sa'ida' sung in English and Arabic. Dana was accompanied by a big band of dancers in suits. After the first song Dana turned to the audience and asked in an excited voice: "Are you free?"

The roar "Yes!" was heard from all of the corners of the stadium, but Dana wasn't content with that, and asked her question once more. The thrilled audience roared its answer more powerfully, and Dana reminded it that even Europe was not always tolerant towards the gay community.

Dana finished her show with the winning song of the Eurovision, 'Diva', and the audience went absolutely bananas. They waved the flags and danced in the balconies, while clapping their hands to the rhythm of the song.

In the audience, the Israeli delegation stood out. The 40 members of the Israeli delegation wore blue-white bonnets on their heads. In addition, the Prime Minister of Holland and the sports minister Erika Terpsatra were present at the parade.

Dana was supposed to be the guest of honor at a discussion dealing with the topic: 'Why don't homosexual football players admit their homosexuality?' After they waited for the singer who never came, the organizers of the event announced that Dana just decided not to show up. "I have had it with reporters," she said.

 

A special version of the song, including parts from the voting in the Eurovision Song Contest, will be included in a collection album of the song writer Yoav Ginai. By Amos Oren.

There are two "raisins" in the first album collection of the song writer Yoav ('Diva') Ginai, which will be released in a few weeks to the stores. Ginai, an old television and radio man (The manager of the radio station "Kol ha-derech" ['The sound of the road'- ZG], and the presenter of the music program in channel 33), has collected 17 of his biggest hits on the album, from 'There's no way out', the first song he wrote (for the singer Adam in '86) to 'Diva', the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest sung by Dana International, written one year ago, and gives the collection the name 'She is all a love song'.

'Diva' is included in the collection in a surprising version, commemorating the climax moments and the excitement of the last Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham, including parts of the dramatic vote, the Dana's words of thanks, and her victory performance. The permission for using this version was achieved after huge efforts towards the European Broadcasting Union and the BBC by the producer of the album, Oren Bar-El from the company Hataklit.

The other raisin in this collection is the first commercial release of the hit 'Mask' (from '92), performed by the band Drama, led by Ofer Nisim. Nisim was the one to break up the band after he discovered Dana, and gave her the songs he had written until then, like 'Going to Petra', which was written after the peace agreement with Jordan, and which is also included in the compilation album.

Other songs in the collection: Songs of Yardena Artzi, Rivka Zohar, Yizhar Cohen, and Banot Ya'akov.

 

Jean Paul Gaultier, the one responsible for Dana International's famous feather dress, visited Israel last week and collected plenty of experience. "I was most excited by the people," he said, "Israeli men and women are the most beautiful in the world." By Nurit Bat-Ya'ar.

The fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier has spent a very busy week in Israel. The French fashion king, who landed Monday for his first visit in Israel, spent time in Tel-Aviv the first two days, and afterwards he went to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. "I didn't believe Israel was so beautiful," he said.

Gaultier, responsible for the famous feathers dress Dana International wore in the Eurovision Song Contest and Madonna's permanent designer, had an almost attached companion in Tel-Aviv: The international model Stella Alis, who was advertised especially because of her teeming body. Alis, originally Israeli and a very good friend of the designer, introduced Gaultier to the fruit which is most identified with the Israeli character - the Sabra. Gaultier fell in love.

Tuesday evening Gaultier arrived at the Octopus club in the Tel-Aviv port, and he was accepted with big excitement. "We love you," screamed the youngsters in the club, "you are the best." Friday, after he was back from Jerusalem, he met Ada Tomer, the owner of the boutique 'Ada' in Kikar ha-Medina that markets his designs, and with Dana International of course.

Gaultier, who returned today to Paris, defined his visit here as a private visit, and as it was his vacation, he refused to be interviewed. But in his visit in 'Ada' - maybe because of all his designs that peeped from every corner - his mood changed and he showed surprising charm.

- What impressed you the most during your visit here?
"The people. The Israeli women and men are the most beautiful in the world. Maybe because of the fact that Israel is a melting pot, where people with different looks merge. I also like the people in Argentina, but Israel, Israel is the best."

- How has it been in Jerusalem and the Dead Sea?
"Jerusalem is extraordinary, and I hope to visit there once again. The Dead Sea is wonderful too. I almost fell asleep when I floated in the water. It was so beautiful there - the salt, the view, the light. I did some treatments there and I even brought lots of ointments."

- Are we going to see influences from your visit here in your next summer collection?
"Everything that impresses me eventually effects my designs. I think that pretty soon, you will see that effect. In the past I have also designed a Hasidic collection from Israeli inspiration."

- What is the most cool thing with Dana International?
"I was very glad to see her with my dress in the Eurovision Song Contest, although it's obvious she won because of her singing. I'm very impressed with the things Dana says and represent. With the freedom and the decisiveness that she broadcasts. She is a very strong woman. She sings beautifully, very elegant and special."

- Are you amazed from the fact that she changed her sex?
"Today everyone change themselves - with piercings, tattoos, or plastic surgery - and she chose to be a woman. It's nice that she chose to be a woman and not a drag queen."

- You defined Stella Alis as your muse. How do you define Dana?
"Stella is one of my muses. Madonna is one also, and now Dana. They are my muses."

- Do you like the Eurovision Song Contest?
"Yes. I have followed these contests since my childhood, and I will come to Israel again in '99 when it will be held. I always liked the Israeli songs - 'A-ba-ni-bi' and 'Hallelujah'. I remembered I cried when I heard 'Hallelujah'. Such a beautiful song. The truth is that in the last years the Eurovision kind of rolled down. But now - thanks to Dana - its lost prestige has returned."

 

	From right to left: Lilach Koch, Limor Cohen (Dana's sister), Dana and Galit Dahan.

4 months after she won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Diva', Dana International arrived at a union meeting with all the members of the Israeli delegation to Birmingham, where the contest was held. The meeting was held in the Tel Aviv hotel Radisson Moria and all who contributed in one way or another to the success of the song were present at the meeting. Among them: Yoav Ginai, the lyrics writer, the composer Tzvika Pik, the backing singers Lilach Koch, Galit Dahan and Shirley Tzapari, the vocal producer Dalit Cahana, the hair designer Miki Buganim, the producer Haim Maluban, Dana's managers - Ofer Nisim and Shai Kerem, and the director of the 'Diva' music video, Guy Sagie. Reshot Ha-shidur (The Israeli Broadcasting Authority) was represented by the television manager Yair Stern.

Yesterday, before Dana and her companions left Israel again on their way to Europe, they were ready to discover one of Dana's future plans: Dana is going to be a guest in the prestigious entertainment program 'Red Carpet', on French television channel two - together with the French football team.

The program has chose the most outstanding people and events of this year, and its producers announced that Danna International's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most outstanding events - together with the France's victory in the football World Cup. The program will be filmed on 8 September in Paris, and Danna will show in it together with all the stars of the French team.

Danna said yesterday: "I'm very happy about the invitation, and even more happy about the opportunity to meet the French team personally."

In the picture (from right to left): Lilach Koch, Limor Cohen (Dana's sister), Dana and Galit Dahan.

 

"I wanted to be a real woman, not a caricature," said Dana International to 'Sky', and 'If you succeed in England, you conquer all Europe," the singer claimed in 'Time Out'. Dana in the mirror of the British media.

The British media, which discovered Dana even before the Eurovision Song Contest, still hasn't relaxed from the transsexual phenomenon. The single 'Diva' which entered to the British chart, was followed by a wave of articles. One, especially, made a storm, because it declared that Dana admires Hitler. She reacted with anger of course, declared that her words were taken out of context, and threatened a libel suit against the reporter and the newspaper which published it.

The respected music monthly magazine "Q" devoted her half a page, with a very provoking picture of Dana today and pictures of Yaron Cohen in his childhood. Another monthly magazine, 'Sky', put a beautiful picture of Dana on a full page. Our girl in the Eurovision Song Contest talked about her adoration of the Eurovision ("I started to watch the Eurovision 18 years ago, and it was very important in my eyes. After all, I'm gay for heaven's sake!"), about the nosiness with her private life ("It's human nature, people are curious, but there are some kinds of questions that steal a part of my soul."), and about choices she has made ("I wanted to be a real woman, not a caricature").

The weekly magazine that no local or tourist can settle down without - 'Time Out' - published a cover interview with Dana by Paul Breston. Dana expressed a hope to conquer the British pop market, as a first step to world control. "If you succeed in Germany, it doesn't mean you will succeed in other countries, but if you succeed in England, you will conquer Europe." Well, we can argue about this thesis, but one thing is for sure - Dana International is definitely an extraordinary success in the British media!!!