Editing Naomi Shemer (section)

=== ''Yerushalayim Shel Zahav'' ===
Shemer wrote one of her best-known songs, ''Yerushalayim Shel Zahav'' (''[[Jerusalem of Gold]]''), in 1967. The song gained immense popularity in Israel after the [[Six-Day War]], with some suggesting it should replace the national anthem.<ref name="jta" /><ref name="Saxon">[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/29/arts/naomi-shemer-74-poet-and-composer-dies.html?scp=1&sq=Naomi+SHEMER&st=nyt Saxon, Wolfgang. "Naomi Shemer, 74, Poet and Composer, Dies"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' obituary, June 29, 2004; accessed August 3, 2012.</ref>

In May 2005, [[Haaretz]] reported that Shemer admitted in a letter to [[Gil Aldema]] that she plagiarized [[Paco Ibáñez]]'s cover of the [[Navarre|Navarerrese]] folk song ''[[Pello Joxepe]]'' while composing the melody for "Jerusalem of Gold".<ref>{{Citation |title=PACO IBÁÑEZ: PELLO JOXEPE | date=August 20, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq1tcUixyRw |access-date=2023-11-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=הופשטיין |first1=אבנר |date=May 5, 2005 |title=ירושלים של מי? |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3081684,00.html |access-date=2023-11-18}}</ref> During her lifetime, Shemer denied allegations of plagiarism related to the melody of ''Yerushalayim Shel Zahav'', referring to its similarity with ''Paco Ibáñez'' as an "unfortunate accident." Shemer stated that the controversy caused her significant distress. Hebrew song researcher Eliyahu Hacohen did not view the resemblance as plagiarism but rather as an acceptable influence in the songwriting process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=חדשות בן עזר – 39 |url=https://library.osu.edu/projects/hebrew-lexicon/hbe/hbe00039.php#3 |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=library.osu.edu}}</ref><ref name="Idit">[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=573295 Idit Avrahami, Nurit Wurgaft, "Naomi Shemer had no reason to feel bad, says Basque singer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120629142103/http://www.haaretz.com/news/naomi-shemer-had-no-reason-to-feel-bad-says-basque-singer-1.157926 |date=June 29, 2012 }}, ''Haaretz'', May 6, 2005; accessed August 3, 2012</ref> In 1962, Paco Ibáñez performed ''Pello Joxepe'' in Israel, when Shemer might have heard it.<ref name="Idit" />

Since the release of ''Yerushalayim Shel Zahav'', Shemer has been regarded by many as Israel's "national songwriter," seen as embodying Israel's spiritual values and sentiments through her music, though she may not have viewed herself in this way.