An Israeli-Arab citizen has won a TV talent singing competition in Israel.

Lina Makhoul, 19, won The Voice last week with her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s "Halleujah" at the final in Tel Aviv.

Ms Makhoul, a Christian born in northern Israel, told the BBC that her success was a victory for all Israeli Arabs and that she had been a victim of racism during the three month-long competition.

A biology student at the Technion Institute who has put her studies on hold, Ms Makhoul won the prize of a music school scholarship and a record contract.

Alexandra Burke won the UK's X Factor in 2008 with the same track by Leonard Cohen.