Arab-Israeli Christian Wins Top Singer on Israel’s The Voice
by JNS.org
Lina Makhoul, an Arab-Israeli Christian, is the winner of the second season of the Israel version of the hit reality show The Voice Israel.
The 19-year-old from Acre, who beat out three other contestants in the final rounds, will receive a record contract and a scholarship to attend music school.
Makhoul’s performed Canadian-Jewish musician Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” as her final song.
During her acceptance speech, Makhoul described overcoming racism during the competition, but also said that she had many positive reactions from the general public as well. “But the majority rules, right?” she told the audience, alluding to the fact that she won her final competition solely by public vote.
The Voice Israel is the Israeli version of the internationally syndicated reality singing competition originally launched in the Netherlands in 2010 as The Voice of Holland. The American version is hosted by Carson Daly and Christina Milian and is broadcast on NBC.