Palestinian singer Bashar Murad advanced on Saturday to the semi-finals of Iceland's Eurovision contestant selection process, with watermelon images screened in the background of his performance. If Murad wins the final to be held next weekend, he will be Iceland's representative in the international song competition in Sweden in May.
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Murad's song is called "The Wild West," which he sings while wearing a cowboy hat. As part of the performance, there are images of watermelon displayed in the background. Watermelons has been associated in recent months with the Palestinian struggle on social media worldwide, including Murad's handle on X. Furthermore, watermelons can also be found displayed on the walls of stone houses in Gaza, and art galleries in Ramallah.
Murad, originally from East Jerusalem, studied at Rimon School of Music in central Israel and is often vocal against Israel's "occupation" in interviews and in his songs. Two years ago, he even released a song in Arabic called "Intifada on the Dance Floor," and in the past also collaborated with the Icelandic band Hatari, who competed in the 2019 Eurovision contest held in Israel, and waved Palestinian scarves and flags during the broadcast.
Murad's possible participation in the Eurovision comes during a time when Israeli participation in the Eurovision Contest is in turmoil. The EBU has threatened to disqualify Israel's intended song entry, "October Rain," due to its "political" lyrics, while the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation announced thatit has no intention of replacing the song or its lyrics. Since the decision, senior political figures including Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and President Isaac Herzog have been trying to assist in defusing the crisis.
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Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar tries to change EBU desicion
(Photo: Shay Franco, Alex Kolomoisky)