Israel declares it will withdraw from Eurovision if its representative is censored

Israel has declared that it will withdraw from Eurovision Song Contest this year if they are censored by the organization. The singer Eden Golan was selected as Israel’s representative for the 2024 edition of the contest. She is expected to participate with the song “October Rain”, whose lyrics were reportedly leaked at the beginning of the week. The 20-year-old’s verses would mention the Hamas victims of the October 7 attack, including one that says: “They were all good children, every one of them.”

A European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, responded by saying it is “currently in the process of reviewing the lyrics, a process that is confidential between the EBU and the broadcaster until a final decision is made. If a song is deemed unacceptable for any reason , broadcasters then have the opportunity to present a new song or new lyrics.”

The broadcaster broadcasting the contest in Israel, KAN, replied: “It should be noted that, with regard to the Israel Broadcasting Corporation, there is no intention to replace music. This means that if it is not approved by the European Broadcasting UnionIsrael will not be able to participate in the competition, which will take place in Sweden in May.”

The contest has been boycotted after allowing Israel to participate. More than a thousand Swedish artists, such as Robyn, FeverRay It is First Aid Kitsigned a letter asking that the country be excluded from the competition because of the war with Palestine.

“The fact that countries that place themselves above humanitarian law are welcome to participate in international cultural events trivializes violations of international law and makes the suffering of victims invisible”, says an excerpt from the letter.

On the other hand, personalities like Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons It is Boy George signed a letter that goes in the opposite direction and asks that Israel be welcomed into the Eurovision.

“We were shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banned from the competition for responding to the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Under the guise of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped men , innocent women and children”, reads a letter published by Creative Community for Peace.