The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed to the Israel Broadcasting Corporation that the country will be able to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden, which will be held on May 11, as confirmed by Israeli public television Kan.
The song
Hurricane
, performed by Eden Golan, has been approved following the decision of the Eurovision supervisory committee, after analyzing the lyrics of the song.
Golan recorded the selected song this week and its lyrics are based on the original melody of the song
October Rain
, which was ultimately not approved for the Festival because it was considered a “political” song.
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The banned song, according to Israeli media, made reference to the more than 247 Israeli soldiers killed in five months of war in Gaza, whom it referred to as “flowers,” a metaphor used in military jargon for those killed in combat.
The EBU had warned that they could disqualify Israel from Eurovision 2024 after considering that the lyrics of its opening song were “political.”
The controversy arose when the council of the Israeli corporation met urgently a few weeks ago and decided not to change the lyrics or the song, "even at the cost of Israel not participating in Eurovision this year."
Last week, Israeli President Isaac Hezog interceded to ask for flexibility from Israel's public broadcaster, which refused to make changes.
“I think it is important for Israel to appear in Eurovision, and this is also a statement because there are enemies who try to expel us from every stage,” said Herzog, alluding to a call within the EBU itself to veto Israel's participation in the war. devastating situation in Gaza.
The first reactions have not been long in coming.
In Spain, the leader of Podemos, Ione Belarra, has reaffirmed the call to boycott Eurovision due to the presence of Israel in this musical contest, proclaiming that "no country that feels democratic and defender of human rights should participate."
In January, several officials from the purple party called for a boycott of the festival for not vetoing Israel's participation in the musical contest, in rejection of the “genocide” that this country perpetrates against the Palestinian population in Gaza.
He also registered a non-legal proposal in Congress to demand that the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and RTVE promote the expulsion of Israel from Eurovision, given its "indiscriminate" attacks against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza.
“If Israel, which is committing genocide, goes to Eurovision, no country that feels democratic and defender of human rights should participate.
It is a disgusting facelift,” Belarra launched through the social network 'X'.
Representatives from 37 countries will compete in the competition, which will be held in Malmö.
Except for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Portugal and Sweden, all participating countries have already elected their representatives.
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