Yoav Eliasi, the Israeli rapper and activist known as 'The Shadow,' has given a revealing interview set to be published in full this weekend in the "Shishabbat" supplement and on the "Israel Hayom" website. Known for his outspoken right-wing views, Eliasi offers insights into his current perspectives on Israeli politics and society.
Eliasi, who recently received the rank of police commander, reflected on his public communications following October 7. "I decided not to post about politics for six months," he stated. "If I had even one percent involvement in the divide and hatred that spread among the people, I decided to keep quiet." He acknowledged participating in what he described as "a discourse of hate and division that came from both sides," adding, "It grew until it became a monster and tore citizens apart."
Eliasi expressed strong disagreement with the recommendation to indict singers Eyal Golan and Kobi Peretz for their statements about Gaza. He discussed an emergency response unit he established in Tel Aviv, demonstrating his active involvement in community safety initiatives.
Addressing the controversy surrounding his police rank, Eliasi provided context: "I received these ranks along with 300 people. The promotion of 299 individuals didn't bother anyone, only mine did." He also pointed out that the media didn't report on Iranian activists allegedly offering a $100,000 bounty for his life, highlighting the challenges he faces due to his public stance.
Eliasi shared his views on accountability for the October 7 attack: "As a result of October 7, the army command should go, the Shin Bet command should go, the Supreme Court should go." Regarding Prime Minister Netanyahu, he stated, "He needs to recalculate his route. You can't absolve Netanyahu, who overlooked the situation during his years as Prime Minister and allowed Hamas to grow stronger. Instead of eliminating them, he gave them suitcases of money."
However, Eliasi emphasized the importance of stability during wartime: "I won't call for anyone to leave during wartime. It's important that they stay until it's over, because they're fighting for my existence and that of the country."
The interview also covers Eliasi's music career with fellow rapper Subliminal. Their recent single, "It's On Us," featuring Raviv Kaner, pays tribute to IDF soldiers in Gaza. Eliasi discussed challenges they face in mainstream media: "We perform non-stop, we've released five new songs, and except for the single with Raviv Kaner, they don't play us on Galgalatz's playlist."
He added, "Our music is also blocked on MTV Israel. They refused to show the clip claiming there's violent content. It's a painful song, written immediately after October 7 and expresses the feelings of most of the country's residents."
Eliasi also reflected on his impact on Subliminal's career: "I feel guilty, because he pays the price for the fact that I'm considered a fanatic and extreme. That's the reason I keep quiet when we're on stage."
When asked about pursuing success abroad, Eliasi's commitment to his home country was clear: "We sing in Hebrew and I want to succeed here."
The full interview promises to provide more detailed insights into Eliasi's views on current events, his musical endeavors, and his role in Israeli public discourse.
* Israel Hayom contributed to this article.