Israeli president says it is “important” the country is allowed to enter this year’s Eurovision
nme.comEurovision Song Contest. Earlier this week, the Israeli broadcaster KAN said they will withdraw from this year’s competition if the event’s organisers attempt to censor their entry.
And now, president Isaac Herzog has said that Israel’s voice must be heard from the Eurovision stage. “I think it’s important for Israel to appear in Eurovision, and this is also a statement because there are haters who try to drive us off every stage,” he said, as reported by the Times of Israel. “Being smart is not just being right,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israel’s culture minister Miki Zohar has said that the threat to censor the song is “scandalous”. “We all hope that Eurovision will remain a musical and cultural event and not a political arena,” he said. “I call on the European Broadcasting Union to continue to act professionally and neutrally, and not to let politics affect art.” Israel have selected the 20-year-old Eden Golan as this year’s entry.
Her song is titled ‘October Rain’, and, as first reported by Israel Hayom (via BBC), the lyrics appear to contain references to the victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
Read more on nme.com