OLIVER PALAN

It’s easier to be gay in Israel than it is to be left wing, according to hunky Oliver Palan. He tells Marc Andrews he’s both – and insanely oversexed, too!

DNA: You’re Tel Aviv’s current ‘It Boy’. Where are you from? Oliver Palan: [Laughs] Thanks. I was born in Los Angeles to Israeli parents. We moved to Israel when I was eight but I hated it here and always wanted to move back to the States. At 18, I moved to NYC to go to college but every time I visited Israel I fell in love more with Tel Aviv and ended up moving back, kind of by mistake. At what age did you come out? I remember checking out bulges, but I thought I was just comparing cock sizes with other guys. I dated girls in high school, but at 16 I met this guy who said he was bisexual. One night I had friends stay over, including this guy, and I had a sex dream about him. I woke up and told all my friends I was gay. Who was your first crush? The bisexual dude [laughs], but after that there was this jock at school who had the biggest pecs in the world and the biggest bulge in his pants. It drove me nuts watching him walk in late to class. You’re a true multitasker – talk us through your current projects. I’ve been a post-production producer on a couple of features, Eytan Fox’s Cupcakes and Yossi, and now I’m doing reality TV on Beauty And The Geek and Couples VIP. I also do web design, study mobile app development and work with Forever Tel Aviv parties on their website. You had an important role during last year’s TLV Pride. What’s the plan for 2014? I love Tel Aviv and I’m so proud it’s become such a gay centre. I’m always happy to help tourists find a place to stay or take them out to party. Last Pride, I worked with the gay bus trips to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, which was really fun and allowed me to meet so many cool, sexy guys from around the world. I also worked the door at a few parties. It felt like I was an unofficial info booth for Pride events. This year’s Pride in Tel Aviv is going to be crazy. Forever Tel Aviv is planning a week of celebrations, like Barcelona Circuit with all the biggest party brands. What is it about Tel Aviv that makes it so gay? An influx of sexy, masculine, army power bottoms and awesome nightlife [laughs]. Tel Aviv has amazing beaches, perfect weather and this exotic Middle Eastern thing. The Tel Aviv municipality has been super supportive in planning gay events and really embracing gay tourism. Israel is a super religious country and Tel Aviv has become a centre for freedom of religion in many ways. Gays move here to feel free, so the gay to straight ratio is high. What’s the downside to living in Tel Aviv and Israel? Tel Aviv is a tiny town so news travels fast and everybody knows your shit. Sometimes the gays here can act a little Mean Girls. There is also a lack of sense of community. There are just so many burning issues in Israel politics in general that the gay issue isn’t top priority. Have you, or would you, ever date an Arab guy? [Excitedly] Woof ! Yes! I’ve never dated one; slept with a few, but I would in a heartbeat. They are super sexy, usually hung and have good family values. I’m meeting more and more Arabs that come from modern homes where their parents accept their gay son. I really like a man with a loving family. How do most gay people in Israel find the situation with the Palestinians? For the most part, being gay doesn’t mean you would vote for a party that would fight for the gay issue. In Israel you are first left or right, then you are everything else. You would be surprised how many Israeli gays are right wing and pretty racist when it comes to Palestinians and Arabs. Do you see yourself as very political or non-political? Deep down inside I’m very political, but I’m extremely left wing. When I moved to Israel as a kid, my parents promised me that by the time I was 18, there would be peace and I wouldn’t have to go to the army. That didn’t work out and it’s one of the reasons I left for NYC at 18. It’s generally harder to be left wing than to be gay in Israel [laughs]. There is a lot going on with adoption and surrogacy right now. More and more friends of mine are coming back from Thailand and India with children. Jewish culture is all about family, so it’s great to see gays getting into that. What do you wear at the beach? I’ve always been a speedo guy. I was a swimmer when I was younger, so that’s what I was used to, but I’m

also turned on by the fabric. How’s your love life? It’s kind of on hold right now. I’m fresh out of a break up. I’m working a lot and don’t have time for dating, but I can tell you my sex life is fantastic [laughs]! What do you look for in a guy? My taste in men is very varied. I’m attracted to guys that are masculine but also queer. I’m a sucker for a good smile, nice biceps and a big cock [laughs]. What turns you on the most? Confidence. On the other hand, cockiness turns me off and there is a thin line between the two. What’s your ultimate sexual fantasy? I’m a very dirty guy, so I can’t tell you all the details, but let’s say it would involve a large group of men and me being blindfolded [laughs]. Where do you think you’ll be in five years? I want to be a young father that can lift his kids up and teach them basketball and stuff. I think early 30s is a good time for me. Hopefully it will be with someone, either a husband or a fag hag [laughs]!