Yaffa Yarkoni dies at 86

Veteran singer Yaffa Yarkoni died Sunday at a Tel Aviv hospital at the age of 86. Yarkoni suffered from Alzheimer's disease in the past few years and was one of the most prominent and popular performers in Israel. Yarkoni began her career as a dancer. In the War of Independence she was drafted to the army and later joined one of first military bands. Her numerous performances during Israel's battles earned her the title of "War Singer". At the end of the War of Independence, she became active in the Israeli world of music. Throughout her career, which spanned decades, she recorded hundreds of songs in different styles and many languages, including children's songs and dance music. In 1998, on the State of Israel's 50th anniversary, she was awarded the Israel Prize for her contribution to Hebrew music.