Israel’s “The Voice” Names Winner of Season Two

A 19-year-old Israeli-Arab woman has been crowned the winner of the second season of Israel’s singing reality show, “The Voice”.

Lina Makhoul, who hails from Acre, left her three competitors in the dust during the final round Saturday night and, as the winner, will receive a recording contract as well as a scholarship to a music school where she will continue to develop her already impressive talent.

The final was comprised of two rounds, one which saw all four contestants: Rudy Beinsin, Dana Tzelakh, Ofir Ben Shitrit, and Makhoul, sing, followed by a round of duets with the singers’ mentors, respectively, Shlomi Brakha and Yuval Banay, Sarit Hadad, Aviv Geffen, and Shlomi Shabat.

In round two Makhoul went head to head against Ben Shitrit for all the marbles, choosing Canadian Leonard Cohen’s trademark song, “Hallelujah” while Ben Shitrit sang Ishfiut Zmanit’s “Hakaitz Haakharon”.

“Thank you for listening, believing, taking part, and putting the music first,” gushed Makhoul after she was named as the winner.