Fans in shock as Israel’s favorite celebrity couple announces split

Singer-actress Ninet Tayeb and her partner of the past eight years, the actor Yehuda Levi, have split up, their agency announced on Tuesday, providing grist for the entertainment industry gossip mills.

“The decision to split up was made together, in great love, friendship and understanding,” a statement from the couple said, adding, “naturally the coming period will not be easy for us.” The pair asked that their privacy be respected.

Tayeb, 30, and Levi, 34, met when they were both in the cast of a musical about eight years ago. They lived together in Tel Aviv and about a year ago, they announced their engagement.

Tayeb’s career began in 2003, while still a soldier, when she won first prize in the first season of “Kokhav Nolad,” the Israeli version of “A Star is Born.” She is apparently the biggest celebrity the show produced.

A year later, Tayeb, who was born and raised in Kiryat Gat, took part in a soap opera called “Our Song,” and subsequently released four albums: “Barefoot,” produced for her by Aviv Geffen; “Communicative;” “Sympathetic Nervous System” and “All the Animals Knew,” which came out last year.

In 2009, Tayeb played a battered woman in the film “Kirot” directed by Dani Lerner. A series, “Zaguri,” starring Tayeb, is soon to be shown on cable TV.

Levi first gained fame as an actor in the soap opera “Here’s to Love” in 2001. A year later he won the prestigious Ophir Award for his role in the film “Yossi and Jagger.” He also took part in the films “The Tribal Campfire,” “Munich” and “Pla’ot,” released this year.

Levi also played in the series “The Champion,” the crime drama “Haborer” (“The Arbitrator”) and “Ima Veabaz” about a family consisting of two gay men and a straight woman and their baby.

Tayeb and Levi’s breakup was described by entertainment news websites and other news outlets as an “earthquake” and “a shock.” Army Radio also announced the breakup.