Haya Samir

Israeli singer. Her parents are Egyptian Muslims who escaped Egypt in 1968 and asked refuge in Israel. Adopting Jewish identities, they settled in Jerusalem. Haya was raised as Jewish and the truth about her ethic origins only became known to her during teenage years. Afterwards, as an adult, she served on the Southern Command Troupe band and became the first Arabian person to be part of a militarist entertainment group in Israel. She gained success with the group as the lead vocalist on the song "Bird With An Olive Branch", written by Talma Alyagon for the 1987 Israeli Song Festival in which the group named as the first place winner. Her main success was during the early 90's. She sings in Hebrew, Arabic and English.