Israeli singers accused of copying Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna’s music video ‘frame by frame’

Israeli singers Gal Juma and Asulin have faced accusations of replicating scenes “frame by frame” from Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna’s 2024 music video Ganeni, according to social media posts and reports. The controversy centers around Juma and Asulin’s new track Zahara, released on August 4, which critics claim mirrors specific visual elements from Ganeni in detail. The allegations have sparked widespread discussion online, particularly on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, where users have posted side-by-side comparisons of the two videos. The claims gained traction after Elyanna’s fans began circulating clips showing striking similarities between the two productions. These include a scene featuring a white Mercedes surrounded by patterned rugs in a desert setting, as well as interior shots of the vehicle decorated with elaborate fabrics and designs. Other shared moments involve rooftop dance sequences and silhouettes of individuals against a sunset backdrop. One notable similarity is an eye painted on a performer’s palm, which appears in both videos. Additionally, both productions feature shots of musicians and employ comparable framing techniques during dance segments. Despite these visual parallels, the two videos differ significantly in other aspects. The music itself is distinct, with Zahara incorporating Hebrew and Arabic lyrics over a 2000s-style R&B beat and violins. Juma and Asulin, who co-wrote the song, perform together in the video. Asulin, whose real name is Rotem Alagem Asulin, is known professionally as J Lamotta and has previously released music under that moniker. The Zahara video was directed by Bruce Melan and had accumulated approximately one million views on YouTube by late August. In contrast, Ganeni was released earlier in the year, on April 12, 2024, as part of Elyanna’s debut album Woledto. The video, directed by Naghmeh Pour and shot in Spain, has amassed over 200 million views on YouTube. It marked a significant moment in Elyanna’s career, following her historic performance at Coachella in 2023, where she became the first artist to present a full Arabic-language set at the festival. She later joined Coldplay at Glastonbury and made appearances on Saturday Night Live alongside the band. Earlier this year, she performed at a pre-match ceremony for Canada’s World Cup opener in Toronto and contributed to the FIFA tournament’s official soundtrack through a collaboration titled Illuminate with Canadian artist Jessie Reyez. The backlash has extended to Juma’s personal Instagram account, where users have criticized the duo for creating a “copy-paste” version of Ganeni under promotional posts for Zahara. However, as of late August, neither Juma nor Asulin had publicly responded to the allegations. Similarly, Elyanna has not issued any statements regarding the situation, and there has been no formal announcement of a copyright dispute. The controversy highlights ongoing discussions about cultural representation and artistic influence in the music industry. While the focus has primarily been on the visual elements of the videos, some observers argue that the issue reflects broader concerns about the appropriation of Palestinian and Arab aesthetics by Israeli artists. Others emphasize that the comparison should not overshadow the creative differences between the works, including their musical styles and lyrical content. The situation continues to unfold as social media users scrutinize the details of both videos. With no official response yet from either party, the debate shows no signs of abating, and further developments are anticipated.