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The Unofficial “Song of the State” In Honor of Israel’s 75th

Gali Atari – Ein Li Eretz Acheret

As we approach Israel’s 75th, the editors of “Yediot Achronot” newspaper wanted to know: What would Israeli citizens vote as the (unofficial) Song of the State? (Hint: it’s been quoted by Nancy Pelosi.)

Voters faced the difficult task of choosing between five finalists:

  1. Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold) – the iconic love letter to Jerusalem, written by Naomi Shemer in the dark days leading up to the Six Day War
  2. Ani V’ata (You and I) – the optimistic song of hope and unity, with music by Miki Gavrielov and lyrics by Arik Einstein
  3. Halleluyah – winner of the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest, performed by “Chalav U’dvash” featuring Gali Atari
  4. HaPerach B’gani (The Flower In My Garden) – Zohar Argov‘s most famous song, helping to bring “Mizrachi” music to the mainstream
  5. Ein Li Eretz Acheret (I Have No Other Country) – by Gali Atari, with music by Corinne Allal and lyrics by Ehud Manor, written in response to Manor’s brother’s death during Israel’s War of Attrition.

And the winner is…

The people have spoken: “Ein Li Eretz Acheret” (I Have No Other Country) is the people’s choice for the most meaningful Israeli song of all time.

Hear Gali sing the song at the awards ceremony:

“I’m not surprised by this choice at this time,” said Atari, as quoted in Ynet. “I have to say that ‘I have no other country’ is a song that I think the entire State of Israel loves. All citizens in the State of Israel love it without exception. And this song always raises its head when something happens, difficulties in the country, a crisis. Like for example what is happening now, it raises its head again and is more relevant than ever. Thank you to all the voters. ‘The country’s song’, there is no greater honor than that.”

Gali Atari reacts to winning the honor of “Song of the State”

When first released, the song was seen as a protest song against Israeli involvement in Lebanon, and over the years it was adopted by various protests. Arik Sinai was the original choice to perform the song, but he gave it up. Gali Atari then recorded it for the first time in 1986. Over the years it was also performed by Yizhar Cohen, the Binyamins and Manor himself.

It’s also one of the most quoted songs in Israel. Over the decades, politicians from across the spectrum have used its lyrics to drive a point home. It’s even made its way to America, where Nancy Pelosi quoted it speaking about the Capitol insurrection in January 2021.

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