The controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision this year has now reached the desk of the President of Israel himself, Isaac Herzog. This comes after KAN, the Israeli broadcaster responsible for selecting the country’s entry, threatened to withdraw from the event if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) attempted to censor their contestant. Herzog believes that Israel’s voice should be heard on the Eurovision stage and that it is important for his country to appear on such a prestigious platform, despite some “haters who try to drive us off every stage.”
Alongside Herzog, Israel’s culture minister Miki Zohar has called the EBU’s alleged attempt to censor the country’s song “scandalous,” adding that “we all hope that Eurovision will remain a musical and cultural event and not a political arena.” The controversy surrounds the song ‘October Rain’, performed by 20-year-old Eden Golan. Allegedly, the lyrics of the song contain references to the victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks, including the line “They were all good children, each one of them,” and the allusion to “flowers,” which many interpret as a reference to war fatalities.
The EBU has stated that it is “currently in the process of scrutinising the lyrics, a process which is confidential between the EBU and the broadcaster until a final decision has been taken. If a song is deemed unacceptable for any reason, broadcasters are then given the opportunity to submit a new song or new lyrics.” However, KAN has said that it will refuse any request for the lyrics to be changed. This situation is not unprecedented in Eurovision; in 2009, Georgia withdrew from the contest after its entry was rejected due to its reference to the Russian president.
The controversy has attracted attention from various quarters, including famous faces in the entertainment industry. Over 1,000 Swedish artists, including Robyn, Fever Ray, and First Aid Kit, signed an open letter calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the competition, alleging that allowing Israel to participate “trivialises violations of international law and makes the suffering of the victims invisible.” However, Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons, and Boy George are among the celebrities who have signed an open letter in support of Israel’s participation in Eurovision this year, stating that “Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children” and that Israel was simply responding to an attack.
In the meantime, the EBU continues to describe itself as an “apolitical member organisation” committed to upholding the values of public service. However, recent decisions such as banning Russia from competing in 2022 and Belarus in 2021 indicate that the EBU is willing to address political controversies when necessary
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