The Israeli rap duo “Ness and Stilla” has reportedly been denied a visa to perform in Miami, Florida, over false accusations that their hit song, “Harbu Darbu,” promotes “genocide” by backing Israel’s war against terror.
The song, written in reaction to the terror attack of October 7, expresses the spirit of a nation mobilized for war. It calls out Hamas and Hezbollah — and celebrities who back them.
Mia Khalifa, the adult actress who celebrated the Hamas terror attack, complained that the song was a “call for genocide.” However, there is nothing in the lyrics or style of the song that expresses anything about genocide.
The song is militant, in that it celebrates shooting terrorists (not ordinary people), but in that regard it is no different from thousands of hip hop songs and videos that regularly feature lyrics about firearms, self-defense, and turf wars.
The Jewish News Syndicate reported that Stilla and Ness had been denied entry due to the “Harbu Darbu” lyrics:
Four Israeli artists were forced to cancel a concert in the United States this week after they were declined visas because of objections to one of their hit songs, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported over the weekend. … According to sources around Ness and Stilla, “official bodies” in the United States created the impression that the lyrics were at the root of the decision. … Last year, Israel joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows Israeli citizens to travel to America for 90 days without a visa. However, performers require a separate visa, and the U.S. government can arbitrarily refuse to grant authorization for these artists to perform.
“Harbu Darbu” was a #1 hit in Israel, even inspiring its own viral video trends. It is not considered controversial.
