Israeli travel blogger Itzik Balas was born into a Jewish Iraqi family. "We are Iraqi and at home we would always speak Arabic and listen to music in Arabic. Over the last two years, I have traveled to hundreds of destinations around the world, including Amman, Bahrain, Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and more," he says.
Balas has continued his travels even during the current war. "I say that I am from Israel and they greet me with love and hugs wherever I go," he told Ynet in an interview.
In February, Balas shared with his quarter of a million Instagram followers photos and videos with the famous Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram, one of the biggest stars in the Arab world, sparking uproar on social media.
Ajram responded to the backlash in an X post, reading "May God protect our families in southern Lebanon and keep the war away from our country and the Arab homeland."
Balas said in February that he was honored to meet with "the global mega-star, the Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram," adding, "I was moved by the powerful meeting with the great star whose songs I've known since I was a small child when my mother would play them for me in the car, at home and family events. We always listened to Arabic music at home and watched Egyptian movies. Over time, I began to speak other dialects of Arabic, which we used to speak at home thanks to the connection with Arab friends around the world."
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Tooling around with the Burj Al Arab in Dubai in the background
(Photo: Instagram / Itzik_balas)
Ajram, who also has many fans in Israel, has appeared on stages around the world. Meetings with Israelis have caused her problems in the past. In July 2023, she took a photo with an Israeli fan during a concert in Cyprus, causing a social media firestorm and receiving harsh criticism from around the Arab world.
This week, Balas posted another explosive photo on his Instagram page, this time with the famous Iraqi DJ Aseel. "It happened the other day at a crazy party in one of the best clubs in Dubai," said Balas. "I sat very close to him at the VIP table and there was a good interaction and we took a picture. He asked me where I was from, I answered and we took a picture and smoked hookah."
You talk about it like it's nothing, but a few days ago missiles and drones were launched from Iraq toward Israel by Iran, wasn't that on the table?
"There were no missiles on the table, there were glasses of Red Bull vodka and hookahs."
Balas emphasized that he has never been treated with hostility or seen someone make a face when they heard he was from Israel. "I have always been accepted Ahlan wa Sahlan (welcome, in Arabic)," he said. "Nothing negative has happened to me and I hope it stays that way."
The Israeli blogger said that since the beginning of the war, he has avoided visiting Turkey or Jordan, but he views the United Arab Emirates as still very safe. "In the United Arab Emirates, it is forbidden to ask you where you are from, what your religion is, what your ethnicity is," he explained. "There is a 'live and let live' policy. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the safest places in the world."
Have you come across any Iranians in recent months?
"No, I didn't get the chance, or maybe I did and I don't know, because there aren't those questions of 'Where are you from?' and 'Who are you?'"