Israeli singer applies for Turkish citizenship

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

Kobi Farhi, the lead singer of the Israeli band Orphan Land, has applied to authorities to acquire Turkish citizenship, according to private broadcaster NTV.
 
Speaking during a meeting with fans, Farhi said he considered Turkey as a "special and important" country and told reporters that he had already applied for citizenship.
 
"I now wish to introduce Turkey to others and to represent [Turkey]," Farhi said, adding that he found most Turkish values to be close to his own.
 
Farhi also said he had always been welcomed in Turkey despite the tense state of bilateral relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
 
Turkish song
 
The band has plans to release a Turkish song on its next album, but more practice is necessary to ensure the pronunciation is correct, Farhi said.
 
Orphan Land previously donated an entire gig's earnings to the victims of the October 2011 Van earthquake.