Court Rejects Eyal Golan’s Petition: No Concerts in Ramat Gan for Now
The court ruled that the municipality’s decision not to approve Golan's shows was not discriminatory, despite comparisons to Omer Adam’s scheduled performances.
Israeli singer Eyal Golan will not be performing at Ramat Gan’s National Stadium this summer. A district court dismissed the artist’s petition challenging the municipality’s refusal to authorize his concerts, stating that no evidence of unlawful discrimination or procedural flaws had been presented.
The dispute centered on the municipality’s decision to deny Golan access to the stadium for a planned series of concerts, citing concerns of "excessive burden" on the venue and surrounding neighborhood. These concerns included anticipated traffic congestion and disruption to local residents.
"The petitioner has failed to demonstrate that the municipality's decision was influenced by external or discriminatory factors favoring Omer Adam," wrote the presiding judge in his ruling.
The Controversy: Omar Adam vs. Eyal Golan
Golan’s legal team argued that the city's refusal was unjustified, especially since pop singer Omer Adam had been granted permission to perform five shows at the same venue in August. Golan, whose performances were rescheduled following the cancellation of shows at Bloomfield Stadium due to security concerns during Operation “Am KeLavi,” had hoped to secure the Ramat Gan site as an alternative.
According to Golan’s attorney Amir Hadad, the rejection was based on "vague and irrelevant arguments," and Golan's performance schedule was less demanding than Adam's. He claimed this constituted unlawful discrimination and a lack of transparency by the municipality.
The Municipality’s Defense
The Ramat Gan municipality countered that no agreement had been finalized with Golan, unlike with Adam, whose contract was already signed by the Israel Football Association, the stadium’s operator. Officials further stated that for over a decade, the stadium had not hosted concerts on such a scale and that Adam’s events were considered a pilot initiative.
“Even Omer Adam’s performances were reluctantly approved,” noted a municipal source. “If the pilot succeeds, future events might be reconsidered.”
Public Debate and the "Social Games" Scandal
The case reignited public discourse around Golan’s past legal controversies, particularly the “Social Games” affair, which has left lingering reputational concerns. While Golan was never convicted of a crime, public debate persists.
The judge acknowledged the social and moral sensitivity around the singer but emphasized that the court’s ruling was based on logistical, not ethical, grounds.
“It would be naïve to ignore the public controversy surrounding Eyal Golan,” the judge wrote. “However, the city clarified that its decision was not based on moral or political considerations, but strictly professional assessments regarding public order and infrastructure.”
What’s Next?
For now, the court’s decision leaves Golan without a major venue for his “Gold” tour, which had already sold over 150,000 tickets. Alternative options, such as Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, were previously explored but dismissed due to scheduling conflicts with football matches.