Cohen lands in Israel behind gray-hatted decoy

Leonard Cohen landed in Israel last night, 24 years after his last concert in the country. The Jewish-Canadian singer and poet arrived from Spain in a private jet earlier than scheduled. To avoid the battery of photographers waiting at the airport, Cohen used a decoy, who wore the singer's signature gray Fedora hat. Cohen himself walked a few paces behind, bareheaded and accompanied by bodyguards.

Cohen and his entourage will be taking 31 rooms at Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, one regular suite for the singer and thirty regular rooms for his staff. Today Cohen is expected to take an aerial tour of Israel in a private airplane.

Stage technicians were finishing their last preparations for Cohen's only Israeli concert at Ramat Gan Stadium tomorrow. Shortly before the concert the VIP area of the stadium will host an event for the Peace and Tolerance Reconciliation Fund, dedicated to Palestinian and Israeli bereaved families committed to the peace process. The event is expected to be attended by families, Cohen's band and author David Grossman.