Tel Aviv, Israel – Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is under threat as the country threatens to withdraw from the competition if organizers attempt to censor its entry. The controversy stems from the leaked lyrics of Eden Golan’s song “October Rain,” which references the victims of Hamas attacks.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization behind Eurovision, is currently assessing the song. This assessment is crucial as the contest’s rules strictly forbid political messages to maintain neutrality. In the past, the EBU has forced national representatives to change their lyrics in compliance with this rule. The EBU has stated that if a song is deemed unacceptable, broadcasters are given the opportunity to submit a new song or new lyrics.
Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, has made it clear that they will reject any request to alter the lyrics of Eden Golan’s song. The broadcaster has stated that there is no intention to replace the song and if it is not approved by the EBU, Israel will not participate in the competition, scheduled to take place in Sweden next May.
The controversy has sparked a debate about the role of politics in music and cultural events. Israel’s Culture Minister, Miki Zohar, has urged the EBU to approve the song, emphasizing that the song represents the feelings of the people and the country and is not political. He called on the EBU to act professionally and neutrally, emphasizing the importance of art over politics in the Eurovision contest.
However, there have been calls for Israel’s disqualification from the contest, with musicians from other participating countries arguing that Israel’s military action makes its participation incompatible with an event characterized by joy and optimism. Despite these protests, Eurovision organizers have resisted calls for Israel’s exclusion, distinguishing the situations in Ukraine and Gaza as different. They maintain that Eurovision is not a contest between governments and stress the importance of inclusivity towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.