Azealia Banks has moved to Tel Aviv, and social media users are revisiting her past comments about Israel. The '212' rapper confirmed the relocation on X on Tuesday, 6 October. In 2018, she had said she would never return to the country.
Banks, 35, left New York for Tel Aviv, according to reports. She posted a photo of her new home with the caption: 'Moving in. If you would have told me years ago I'd end up moving to Tel Aviv and liking it, I would have said youre crazy.' The post drew more than 1 million views and thousands of likes. On a Reddit thread about the move on r/Fauxmoi, one commenter wrote: 'Stay there'.
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Banks Says the Move Is About Her Music
Banks said the move has helped her creative work. She said she is working on a new album, writing that she is 'making my album FINALLY'. Reports say she is working with the Israeli producer Yinon Yahel.
She credited Tel Aviv's music scene. 'Its ironically just been easier to create here because Israel's arts scene is really mature,' she said. She also wrote: 'I found some real camaraderie and some really cool music crew here.'
Moving in. If you would have told me years ago id end up moving to Tel Aviv and liking it, I would have said youre crazy 🤪 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/dIDiZ7I0gH
— AZEALIA BANKS (@iiwasinthee212) October 6, 2026
Banks added that 'People arent witholding stems and holding grudges about social issues and its freeing.' She wrote: 'This is the most creatively enabled ive felt in years.'
Organisers announced a concert for her in September. It was scheduled for Thursday, 8 October, at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater, but the production later postponed it to 30 October, citing fan requests and the proximity to the 7 October anniversary, according to Israeli reports. Reports at the time of the announcement said she was already in Israel working on the album.
A Shifting Stance on Israel
Banks' public position on Israel has changed several times in recent years. After a show at the Tel Aviv club Barby in 2018, she alleged racist treatment and wrote: 'I will never ever ever ever ever go to Israel again.' She added that she would not return 'unless it's for some real money'.
She later returned. In June 2025, she described herself as a Zionist. In October 2025, around the second anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks, she performed at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater. She appeared onstage draped in an Israeli flag.
Her stance then changed again. In March 2026, amid the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, she wrote: 'On second thought, F*CK ISRAEL.' Her move to Tel Aviv came about seven months later.
Reddit and X Push Back
The reaction to her announcement was mixed, and much of it focused on her past comments. On Reddit, the 'Stay there' comment drew hundreds of upvotes. A reply to it said: 'Unfortunately, she'll still have internet access. Which means we'll still have to hear from her.'
On X, many replies joked about the apartment in her photo. One commenter asked: 'Do you live in a tech startup office?' The reply drew more than 1,000 likes. Another compared the space to a warehouse with a kitchen island. Another asked her: 'How often are you gonna play this game?'
Some replies criticised the move on political grounds, while others questioned how her views had changed over the years. Banks has not named a title or release date for her album.
