Israel delays picking song for Eurovision following EBU request to screen political songs

Israel delays choosing song following European Broadcasting Union's request to check lyrics for political content; EBU announces again its refusal to bar Israel from the Eurovision song contest
The song that Israeli representative to the Eurovision contest, Eden Golan, was supposed to be unveiled this week. However, following a request from the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the international song contest, Israel delayed the announcement of the chosen song for the contest in Malmo, Sweden in May. The EBU said it wanted to approve the song's lyrics to check that it does not contain political messages. Israel accepted the request as it is not unusual and is actually in the Eurovision regulations.
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The song selection process is still underway as the committee continues to consider two final songs. After listening to Golan perform both, a final decision will be made. The committee is supposed to convene again on Saturday, when it possibly will announce the selected song, if the EBU approves the lyrics of the two songs by then.
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עדן גולן, מתמודדת "הכוכב הבא לאירוויזיון"
עדן גולן, מתמודדת "הכוכב הבא לאירוויזיון"
Eden Golan, Israel's representative to Eurovision
(Photo: Shai Franco)
At the same time, the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest officially announced, once again, that they rejected requests by several countries to disqualify Israel from the competition, contrary to the step they took against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
"Comparisons between war and conflict are complex and difficult and, as an apolitical media organization, it is not our place to make them," said Noel Curran, chief executive of the European Broadcasting Union. "The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political musical event, not a competition between governments."
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הלוגו הרשמי של האירוויזיון במאלמו, שבדיה
הלוגו הרשמי של האירוויזיון במאלמו, שבדיה
Malmo Eurovision 2024 official logo
The European Broadcasting Union consistently shows that it does not take a political position regarding the war against Hamas. In addition, the EBU granted Israel's request to participate in the second semi-final of the competition to be held in Malmö, due to the Holocaust Remembrance Day's date.
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