Israeli newspaper ynet is reporting that Israel’s Eurovision 2024 song may be disqualified because of political lyrics.
Citing “European sources,” the newspaper says the song contains political statements — something many observers had assumed after the revelation the song is titled “October Rain.”
KAN — Israel’s Eurovision broadcaster — quickly convened a council to discuss potential disqualification. The paper says it was decided that if the song is disqualified because of its political content, Israel will withdraw from the contest rather than amending the words or switching songs.
Belarus made a similar decision in 2021, refusing to amend its song in a way that complied with the rules.
Israel will withdraw from Eurovision if the EBU disqualifies its song over political lyrics
Speaking to ynet the Israeli broadcaster said: “We will not change the lyrics or the song, even at the cost of Israel not participating in Eurovision this year.”
The broadcaster added: “The Israel Broadcasting Corporation is in dialogue with the EBU regarding the song that will represent Israel at Eurovision.”
On February 16, the European Broadcasting Union re-iterated that it would not exclude Israel from Eurovision over the ongoing war in Gaza. It said publicly, and once again, that Eurovision is a contest between broadcasters and not governments. Because KAN complied with the rules, Israel’s participation was safe.
However, the inclusion of political lyrics is another matter. That represents a violation of the contest rules by a participating broadcaster and paves the way for Israel to be disqualified.
Israel plans to send Eden Golan to the contest. That’s after she won, HaKokhav HaBa, earlier this month.
A committee that included music experts and TV professionals was then tasked with choosing her song.
Earlier this week it emerged that the front-runner was a song called “October Rain,” which many have assumed refers to the October 7 attacks in Israel.
UPDATE: Full statement from Israel’s broadcaster KAN
“After being selected in an orderly process by the professional Committee of the Israel Broadcasting Corporation, the selected song was passed annually for approval by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said on Wednesday that “Kan” is in dialogue with the EBU regarding the song that will represent Israel in Eurovision. It should be noted that as far as the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation is concerned there is no intention to replace the song.
This means that if it is not approved by the European Broadcasting Union, Israel will not be able to participate in the competition, which will take place in Sweden next May.”
In the span of the last 20 years they have literally only sent three good songs. Their mere presence is a point of contention. It’s not worth it. They won’t be missed.
replace Eden for me, i volunteer to represent Israel
with my AI bop – Change Is Coming (think ”x my heart” vibes) i project the israeli flag in the backdrop with lights
October rain – tears
Flowers/good kids – fallen Idf and the ones who were killed by h@mas..
No air to breath – the hostages that in the tunnels
Cowards – h@mas that hides behind his people..
That what I think it meant…
Are you kidding me with this ?
Trying to find hidden meanings for a song is pathetic, I can do this for almost every song that Israel sent to the competition and disqualify them. It’s ridiculous.
Honestly, you could do it for any song recorded if you tried. And I have seen far wilder suggestions in past years.
What the f*** is the matter with the Palestine bandwagon? Excuse my language, but the Palestine bandwagon has harassed the EBU for too long, and I’m doing everything I can to console Eden. She shouldn’t be attacked any longer, and even if Israel is disqualified, I’ll continue to defend her.
idk
over a hundred israeli victims on October 7th
or over 9.000 p.al.es.tin.ian vic.tims in g.az.a
you tell me, what is worse
Oh please, it’s not a competition of which side has more victims. It’s just a subject which should be left out of the competition because it causes conflict and heated arguments. Messages like yours are also part of the problem.
Well said
Maybe disqualify countries in war. War, as opposed to armed conflicts is defined by at least 1000 people dead per year and that at least one of the parties is a state.
I think countries can be in Eurovision when they are not in war.
That would leave no one participating as most countries are involved some kind of war.
Both are terrible losses of human lives. Human lives can not be calculated by numbers it’s much more valuable than that.
Please specify what or who this bandwagon is and how it has been harassing the EBU.
A bandwagon is a group of people with a shared opinion. The Palestine bandwagon is a group of people that seemingly love to harass the EBU and attack Israel’s entrants. Israel didn’t want this war to begin with, anyway.
Those who think lyrics seem fine,
you maybe don’t know “flowers” mean fallen IDF soldiers for the israeli people.
So a song about israeli soldiers and title “october rain”, its very political and unacceptable
That may be true but they can’t possibly object to the English word flowers, no matter what Israel means with it. You can’t let Ukraine use the word kill and say no to the word flowers.
I think it’s all about context and not about the actual words. There’s nothing wrong in the words “we don’t wanna put in” (Georgia’s 2009 disqualified song) but there’s a very clear hidden message there. It’s a similar case – they might not be explicitly mentioning the IDF fallen soldiers but it’s heavily implied and that’s enough imho.
Absolutely, we all know what they mean and what it is about and I’d agree with you about the context IF the EBU hadn’t allowed 1944.
You’re right. It’s not only “1944”, I mentioned a few more examples below – “Panagia mou, panagia mou” and “Pia prosefhi” had indirect references to political events in Greece. EBU has the right to scrutinise each song separately and my impression is what they are doing is basically risk assessment. “We don’t wanna put in” and “October rain” seem to carry high risk for being criticised, cause controversies or even safety concerns for the participants. Other songs were lower risk and therefore allowed. It’s not easy to draw the line sometimes but in this case I agree with EBU’s decision.
I mentioned the more current one because in 2016, Eurovision was basically the same contest as it is today. I’m not gonna hold the EBU accountable for decades ago because the contest was different, the people in charge were different etc. But 2016 is a fair comparison imo. You raise an interesting point with controversy and risk assessment. Simple controversy can’t be the reason to reject something or there is no freedom of expression.
I treat ESC as a continuum and tbf the people in charge in 2016 were different to today: there was a different executive supervisor (Jon Ola Sand) and a different reference group in 2016. I totally agree about freedom of speech but EBU has used the terms ‘bringing the contest into disrepute’ a few times in the past and this allows some room for interpretation. Allowing a song with clear references to current events that cause heated political debates worldwide would be a high risk move for EBU. Just imagine all international media reporting about Israel’s song and all the… Read more »
All very true. Which leads me to think that maybe this is planned out and both sides actually want this scenario of rejecting the entry thus withdrawing to happen. I still think these lyrics are no grounds for rejection but they might be intended to make just that happen. The possibility of Israel participating with anything backfiring is very real.
It could be the EBU covering their backside After the last time they let something through that lyrically didn’t seem objectionable, but their meaning was, and it was only pointed out by people who knew the language and meaning that they rejected it. Yes, I’m talking about Belarus, 2021, and I bet the EBU doesn’t want to make that same mistake with Israel.
Ukraine’s song was about an event 70 years in the past even if it was made in reaction to the annexation of Crimea. But the song itself doesn’t really address any of the Crimea bits covertly nor directly. Georgia 2009 being disqualified even though their heart was in the right place also shows this isn’t just about shutting down dissenting viewpoints, but instead about the relevancy of the context. I mean, Waterloo. Come on now. Had the war been going on AS the song was made? I don’t think we’d have had that song in the competition. The context of… Read more »
Hmm. You do have a point that 1944 has more plausible deniability in that sense than October Rain does. And yet the context as to why they sent 1944 in 2016 is so obvious that I still maintain that comparison. But your argument is very true. That’s the loophole EBU can use.
I will add another song in this debate: Armenia’s 2015 song “Face the shadow” had indirect references to Armenian gen0cide 100 years earlier. Although the song was accepted and the lyrics were not changed its initial title was “Don’t deny”. EBU requested to have the title changed, given that the original title could be seen as much more provocative and politically charged, given the possible association with the sensitive issue of the criminalisation of the denial of the gen0cide in many countries. I do think that EBU wants to avoid any controversies and heated discussions that move the attention away… Read more »
That’s what I found particularly stupid tbh. They sing „don’t deny“ in every chorus but can’t name their song like that? Made absolutely no sense. But hey, at least Azerbaijan must have been pleased. „don’t deny you and I“ was evasive enough. They didn’t sing „don’t deny our genoc…“.
You know, it all reminds me of the Latin expression about ‘Caesar’s wife being beyond suspicion’. In a perfect world everyone should be allowed to expresd themselves freely but we’re far from it.
And yeah I wouldn’t be surprised if this was unofficially agreed between EBU and KAN – it’s a win-win situation, where nobody takes the full responsibility.
The difference I feel is that this overtly refers to current events. 1944 recounted an historical event albeit the implications were clear to most people. The images flashing across our screens are horrific. If the lyrics made reference to loss on both sides it might pass scrutiny.
The line “they were all good children each one of them” pretty much confirms that this is a song about fallen IDF soldiers, and using ‘October’ in the title places the song in a very certain frame. KAN should simply change the lyrics if they really want to participate – it would not be the first time this has happened.
THANK YOU finally someone else pointed that out
So what are you saying? That Israel cannot use the word flowers in its songs? Does it make sense to you?
By the way, the Israeli song from 1983 is called Hai and there is a line in the song “And my flowers too” Do you think the song should have been disqualified because flowers are soldiers?
I hope thay participate and get boo’d on stage like Russia 2014 or 15
I hope they wouldn’t wait until end of the song, cause they would just use fake clapping track over the booing.
If they boo throughout the song, it should be heard though
Like I said, I’ve seen the lyrics to “October Rain” and they’re perfectly fine. I don’t understand what the commotion with the EBU is about, it’s as if they are looking for a way to get rid of Israel. If this song is rejected and Israel withdraws, I think Israel should sue the contest organizers and the EBU. If they approved a political song in 2016, there is no reason for them to reject this song.
I hope thay participate and get boo’d on stage like Russia 2014 or 15
If the audience boos Eden before and after her performance, or heaven forbid, throws eggs and rotten tomatoes at her once “October Rain” ends…I don’t know what I’ll do in response. 🙁
I think EBU has the right to decide what is ‘safe’ and ‘neutral’ and what could be interpreted as ‘political’ and ‘provocative ‘. If they rejected Georgia’s song in 2009 and Belarus in 2021 they can do that with “October Rain” as well without giving further justification. Every song is a separate case. Songs with potentially political content have been allowed multiple times before – I’m Greek and I can already name our songs in 1976 and 1995 that had indirect references to political events (Turkish invasion in Cyprus and Macedonian naming dispute respectively). My impression is that EBU cares… Read more »
Remember Israel still has the right to enter the contest, they are a participating country and quite right so they have been so since 1973. If the song is not acceptable by the EBU reference group then they must change the lyrics or replace the song. Indirect subtle reference would be acceptable using a metaphor (ie 1944). In your face reference is not acceptable (Georgia 2009). A platform for propaganda is not acceptable. If they don’t want to change it then be so and perhaps considering entering next year, maybe with the same artist. By then we hope for peace… Read more »
Palestine isn’t a real region, anyway.
“If you don’t let us break the rules, we’ll withdraw!”
Well, go ahead
Ok guys so the lyrics have been revealed and it’s… well… shocking.
Evening
Everything is black and white
Who is the fool
Who told you boys don’t cry
Hours and hours
and flowers
Life is not a game for the cowards…
While time goes by
Every day
I’m losing my mind
Holding on
There’s no air left to breathe
No place, no me from day to day.
They were all good children each one of them
If these are the lyrics they are tame enough to be left alone. If anything, Breskvica’s PzE song leaves way more room to interpret it as a far-right propaganda, but yet, as she says that the lyrics are not it, the song is left alone to compete.
Not really, they are constantly blaming H@mas without mentioning their name. H@mas is not just a terrorist group but also a political party governing Gâza.
But the lyrics are vague, not mentioning H*mas, or the concrete events. Sure, the connotation is there, but so was in 1944. And as I said, the symbolism in Gnezdo Orlovo is more on the nose (even if I do understand that she might just want to use visually striking imagery without thinking about the symbolism all that much.) In this song, the only more explicit lyrics I see are ”They were all good children, each one of them”, but even that doesn’t fully go into who and where. Then again, there might be more explicit lyrics in the other… Read more »
so?
i doubt Breskvica will win PzE anyway, i hope for Teya Dora or Dusan Kurtic there, but i feel Lena Kovacevic is a dark horse
Breskvica is an odds favorite thus far. If this interpretation is to be believed, Gnedzo orlovo (Eagle’s nest) is a reference to the weekend house of A. H*tl*r, and the song evokes the idea of the Serbians ethnically clensing and reuniting with K*s*v*. Parent talks to their son about defending the eagle’s nest, claiming it will be over once “the black birds are removed from their field”. K*s*v* literally means “the blackbird’s field”, and we know which nation has a black eagle as their symbol, right? Is this reaching out? Perhaps. Breskvica is negating the allegations. But the stronger influence… Read more »
For context, “flowers” is referring to the fallen IDF soldiers. Any references made to IDF means they are promoting military action in the G strip, and equates the values of Eurovision with those of the Israeli government.
I don’t necessarily think that talking about fallen soldiers is supporting anything in the strip.
People here just don’t see soldiers as soldiers only, as the service is mandatory, so it’s many of us.
Your family, friends, neighbours next door, that’s the army.
I understand people outside of Israel see it differently because, well, it’s still soldiers we’re talking about, but people here just mourn the ones they lost :\
You’re a military state. Sickeningly so.
I don’t see any problems with these lyrics.
Me too, I don’t see problems with the lyrics
Those words could perfectly represent Palestine’s decades-long suffering.
They are neither shocking nor very good. That part at least is tamer than 1944.
Hardly shocking
Anti-Semites apparently have a special understanding of a political text or propaganda
Holding you accountable is not antisemitism, read a book.
Please stop using the word anti-semite to describe anyone who disagrees with what the Israeli government is doing. Nobody here is advocating violence against anyone simply expressing a point of view.
You’re making a fool of yourself trying to find hidden messages in the song. The song will be approved and I don’t see a problem with the lyrics.
Making a fool out of myself? Approved? You don’t see a problem with the lyrics? Did you talk with EBU?
What do I have to prove? You published the words, what are you trying to say that Israel cannot use the word flowers? It’s just ridiculous.
reminds me of an Ylva & Linda cheesefest entry tbh, not very good, quite amateurish too
“There’s no air left to breathe No place, no me from day to day. They were all good children each one of them” Even outside of any political reasonings, this is absolutely distasteful. Yes, they were all good children, each one of them. And they have no air left to breathe… In Palestine Now if only the song was actually about the pain being inflicted on Palestinians and this’d almost be acceptable if we considered it like that hypotethically, because it’s showing sympathy… But it’s not about that… It’s about the people partying 24/7 in Tel Aviv and having all… Read more »
No idi0t… the “no air to breath” its the Israeli hostages that in the tunnels for over a 130 days now…
They breathe the same air as the Palestinians do currently. As immoral as taking hostages is, I think if you looked into the actual personal lives of the hostages that have had their names publicized, you’d be surprised that maybe they aren’t running out of breath because of Palestinians like some would like to claim.
You are breaking records in your opacity, should Israel sing about the Palestinian pain? The song represents Israel.
She returned to Israel two years ago because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. She is not Russian, she is Israeli
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014… She performed in occupied Crimea.
The war didn’t start suddenly in 2022. Acting like the family wasn’t fully aware of their actions and where they still run their business is more opaque than I am.
1-i agree with the EBU , they treated Israel fairly unlike.., the title is pretty in your face 2- Eurovision is not the place for war or political issues, its only one night with the right kind of madness. 3-israel should not participated this year, its not a time for celebration, while our people are held in captivity. 4- October 7 , was an eye opener, Israel should leave the contest , Europe stand with terror , its only jews…its about time we will face the reality , as far as the European’s concerns , Israel and Jews have no… Read more »
A war is not a ‘political issue’.
learn to read… war or political.
This comment is absurd since you treat Palestinians like animals and every reference of your politicians you vote for dehumanises the Palestinian people, look at your own house before judging others
Israel must be excluded from the competition just as Russia was, there is no difference
Animals rape woman’s and men’s.
Animal kidnapping baby’s.
Animal support terror.
You are an animal.
You don’t know what I voted , what I think.
The Palestinian civilians came on the 7 October and shot dogs and baby’s in the head.
The Palestinians vote again and again in violence.
They could have a state long time ago …
I hope you and your family will gone trow what the happened to is on the 7 October.
Maybe than you will understand
You denied them self-determination for half a century, don’t act surprised since you turned them into the vicious animals you claim they are today.
Finally EBU makes a right decision
Looking at it as objectively as I can. If Israel does participate the focus will be on the country not the song and people will try to find political messages in the lyrics regardless of how innocuous they might seem. For those of you who understandably are sensitive about how israel is perceived, please remember they have 3 wins and multiple top 10 placings. Eurovision audiences don’t hate Israel. The more extreme posts here are not representative. Let’s hope a ceasefire agreement is reached quickly and that the song Kan submits is universal in its message. It is possible to… Read more »
Israel won between so and so:
1. If the EBU rejects the song then they will say it is anti-Semitism and it will look very bad for the EBU.
2. If the EBU does approve the song, then Israel will participate as usual and it will be the most talked about song at Eurovision this year, which will lead to victory.
Something I wanted to add: the lyrics of the song have been published, it is not political at all. If they decide to disqualify the song, it will simply be pure anti-Semitism.
Yeah sure, the lyrics sound just like what i’d see in a propaganda poster.
What victory, 30 000 people are killed by their people in Pal estine. That is no humanity. They have to be shame about that song. Just not normal people make that song
the title has ”October” in it, and we can easily know what the october rain then means, because just couple hundreds of israeli people died, compared to many thousands of p.a.l.esti.nia.ns
just change the song, something upbeat
or withdraw
i listen to israeli music artists their work, is that also bad?
There’s 292 comments here when we don’t even know what these lyrics are. Rules are rules and if the song violates them, the EBU is within its power to request alterations or an alternative song but submitted. “1944” competing (and winning) has set the precedent and shown that, actually, there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to lyrical content. If the same rules are applied fairly to Israel, and they fail to comply with them (lax as they are), then there can’t really be any complaints from their side. Of course, the likeliest explanation is that Israel never… Read more »
1944 got away with being about something that happened 7 decades ago and not being about current world events.
If Georgia 2009 got disqualified, so should Israel 2024. Simple as.
If Israelis want to be represented at Eurovision, we’ve got Talli from Luxembourg. If Israel withdraws, they can just vote for her!
true
And then you talk about how it is not a political issue???
Rules are equal for everybody. If they don’t follow them, just apply the protocol.
The harsh attitude is not against jewish people, it’s against the State of Israel. There are two different things. EBU has been so polite with Israel and they have donde what they want. They are not privileged and imo they must be withdrawn at the beginning of the contest.
Croatia last year was a political song.
To this day I still have no idea how they got past the no politics rule (even if it was kind of iconic in hindsight)
Moroccan Oil should be boycotted as it stems from its disingenuous branding tactics and deliberate efforts to mislead consumers. The brand’s association with Israel, hidden behind a facade of Moroccan identity, sparks ethical concerns regarding transparency, authenticity, and corporate honesty.
This means the turquoise carpet would have to go back to being a red carpet, or, with the Swedish flag having a yellow Nordic cross, a yellow carpet.
October Rain is clearly a reference to the Guns N Roses hit song November Rain. October Rain will be about that every year comes 1 month before the November Rain. I am pretty sure about this. Even though I haven’t heard the song yet.
Good luck getting the EBU to buy that nonsense.
I’m certain it was a joke 😀
at least November Rain isn’t a political song, and Axl is also a better singer, performer, person than Eden
No it’s the sequel to Earth Wind and Fire’s song September but we’re not ready to have this conversation!
Next May? Oh, well. Not much to fuzz about then. Thank you KAN for clearing that one out. Also predicting Sweden will win two years in a row. Now that’s a bit edgy! So in the upcoming May this year we will have 36 participants.
Well, the British love talking about the weather, and one can never really predict the weather in October. Too cold, too hot, too much rain, no rain. Some years it’s t-shirts for Halloween, other years it’s coats and scarves. It’s probably a great idea for a song… wait, what’s the matter? The song’s not really about the weather? Oh dear. Are you sure? Putting made-up storytelling aside for a moment, how would a song like “October Rain” be different to the 2016 winner “1944”? We might never know, if the song doesn’t see the light of day. All we poor… Read more »
1944 was about a historical event, the planned Israeli entry is about a current event. That’s what 1944 was fine, and whatever Israel plans to enter isn’t.
Indeed, but only if you take the meaning of “1944” at face value. I didn’t at the time, and I still don’t today. It sounds like an allegory for 2014 to me.
But yes, I see how there would indeed be a big difference if this Israeli entry were transparent and did not use an allegory at all.
Sure, this one could be 1948, but the angle of the song wouldn’t really make a comparison to today in Israel’s favour. That’s probably why they want to focus on the October events. An eye for an eye. Thousands of lives for ten thousands of lives. Terror actions for state elimination.
And October Rain will be about another historical event. When it rained in October in Sinai desert. Or the Negev desert. Or whatever.
‘October Rain’ reminds me of the ‘Prague Spring’ or ‘Arab Spring’. It’s very clearly a political reference to an important event
Jesus.. Guys.. just wait, listen and judge after! I love Israel and hope they send something peaceful and not political. We need this. If not, I really hope they won’t withdraw, but prepare another song instead. There must be another way!
You love gen0cide, apartheid and opression if you love Israel.
I didn’t even ask for your opinion.
It seems you don’t know how to read.
Are we sure this isn’t just them generating some hype and controversy around the song? Israel hasn’t exactly sent any political songs in a while.
Sometimes I read Israel 2023 lyrics thinking of the October 7th events.
The person who wrote those lyrics would have needed to be a fortune teller, though… And why didn’t he/she inform the authorities in time of what he/she saw in his/her crystal ball?
Good thing we had one for the 2023 season predicting NFs!
Looks like it’s been another brainwashing day for all political gurus around. So empathetic.
The picture would be fine touched with human rights experts throwing hatred and booeing a young lady on a music show. Classy move, folks.
I saw you had a lot of fun on Toy, Noa etc. and now talks about history, crimes since years. That’s hypocrisy. And please don’t act like you haven’t heard about the original source of violence.
Sing a song!! Waterloo 24
Am I the only one who remembers “The Must Be Another Way” from 2009? What if it is a long like that?
The difference here is that the song actually calls for peace in the region. October Rain doesn’t, it’s just a sob story.
It doesn’t call for war either
And Israel didn’t want the attacks to begin with. This is super bad because I wanted Eden to be part of the show, but all these toxic Eurojerks won’t stop harassing the EBU, Eden, or entrants in other countries. Apartheid, genocidal actions, and oppression need to stop completely. Jews and Israelis deserve a peaceful life. They shouldn’t be caught in attacks from a region that doesn’t exist.
If anyone ever feels bad about all the drama in ESC-related Facebook groups, hop over to Wiwibloggs for 5 minutes. You’ll immediately feel better. It’s like Mad Max out here. 😉
To discuss the issue a bit more objectively and compare it to 1944, it would be necessary to see which lines exactly are being perceived as “political” rather than the expression of a subjective experience? You can’t allow it in one case and not allow it in another case without a very clear and concrete comperative analysis. To be fair, the eurovision is unfortunaly getting farer and farer to be a unpolitical. The only political purpose should be to be the peace project for which it was founded after WW2, which would include to understand each other. From what I… Read more »
Yes. Logical. Let them be sad so we can understand how hospitals, journalists, UN staff, women, children and refugees are gone. We surely need to understand how sad they are so we can understand the following actions.
This just seems like an elaborate way to avoid getting booed at the semis to me . Either that or they’re fishing for a reason to say they are being “victimized”
And the funny thing is if Israel withdraw, Tali will have to to say goodbye to her only friend because i guess no one want to talk or associated with her and Eden since most of them didn’t want Israel to be here lmao
What did Tali do to you or anyone else? She’s an amazing person and can be friends with whomever she likes. Are you saying this just because she was born as Israeli??
No, i don’t have anything against Tali but she been bullied on internet for weeks because she is a Israeli, i hope those artists won’t avoid to make friend with her
She wasn’t bullied by chance tho she did express some zionist views on the war that upset the majority of people.
Oh so KAN confirmed? Yeah finally i can enjoy Eurovision in peace without seeing these annoying people on twitter cry about “#BanIsraelInEurovision” everywhere, everyday. It’s getting tired but i hope they find another way to help Palestine people instead of write that hashtag “BanIsrael..” to get more like, follower.. because yeah, your hashtag seem so helpful for Palestine people ^^
Yeah seems fishy… I think Israel might have already thought about withdrawing and drawing them to the semifinal with more participants furthermore proves the point. This might all be just an act that gets them “disqualified”. That’s how they make it look like they really wanted to participate, but couldn’t for unfortunate reasons. If they really would like to participate they would make very subtle and careful lyrics that would get the green light from EBU easily. Or maybe KAN is just stubborn who knows?
I share the exact same opinion. If KAN really wants to participate, they still have three weeks to change some lyrics or submit a new song. Now it really looks like they wanna withdraw in a soft way.
If this is the case, I haven’t seen such a calculated move to try to remove themselves from the competition since Russia’s stunt in 2017 with Yulia.
Yes, this is their way of dropping off without loosing their face.
I would not miss Isreal. It is one of my less favorable countries in Esc.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was planned and agreed on both sides. Israel gets to withdraw without looking weak and EBU gets a reason to suspend Israel without acting too political and losing the main sponsor. Win-win.
that’s an efficient way of removing israel from the contest without losing the main sponsor
Let’s just hope Israel stays in the contest with an alternative good song with no political content in the lyrics!
After all, we’re Eurofans and we care about music, no?
Before we’re Eurofans, we’re humans, and we care about human lives before we care about music.
Israel is committing genoc!de. They should not be allowed to participate.
Innocent Israeli people are also human beings
no no, you see, he cares about “human lives before music” as long as they are not jewish lives.
And Diva Maria, mama Teresa too
Yes they are protesting on your streets.
They are also be silenced and beaten up.
Keep on going and throw out this extremist Right wing Regime. Power to the Peoples
I thought you’d gone for a lie down
In either case, Israel has already won by this point. If the EBU rejects their song and they withdraw, they will play the victim. The EBU will lose most of its credibility for not banning Israel on the grounds of their political actions and crimes, which should be a message that we as a society send to the world loudly and clearly, but on a “technicality”.
This being said, whatever keeps Israel out of the competition this year and for as long as they keep doing what they are doing, I’ll take it.
Luckily you don’t decide
And neither do you.
Touchè turtle
Touché*
The anti semitism on this page is a disgrace did anyone learn anything from the Holocaust.
Hate and war is not tolerable we will agree on that.
But it seems that the victims of the Holocaust themselves didn’t really learn… Remember there is no good in this war, only bad.
I believe that little, if any, people here are anti-semits. There is a difference between country and religion. I personally have zero problems with a person being a Jew, as long as he/she is a decent person. I am Current actions of Israel, on the other hand are questionable at minimum. I don’t think many people would mind a Jewish person is participating, and me personally would not mind even Israel if they have a decent non political song. However, people like a person under name “Gil” who was insulting everybody and saying “Nobody will tell us what to do”… Read more »
Disagreeing with official Israeli politics is not anti semitism.
Yup, learned a lot about the depths of human evil. But it seems what Israhell learned was how to exterminate a group of people they don’t like.
Oh please if the shoe was on the other foot everyone be crying Islamophobia if the EBU even dared ban a Palestinian or someone with an Islamic background singing the same, but because it’s Isreal it’s all okay to see them banned and not allowed to express their emotions.
A song referencing the needless death of innocent people should absolutely be allowed. Good luck to her, I hope it’s a great song
It will perhaps be interesting thinking about the song from the perspective of the people that a state wants to eliminate.
But this is actually not a new thing. In schools of both sides children get a biased view of the other. They inherit their parents and their grandparents conflicts. It has never been about remembering, forgiving, reconciling. It has been about revenge and an eye for an eye since the beginning.
Mankind hasnt lost hope.
Many great souls are in it.
Wise words.
It will be interesting to see how the EBU will spin this one to keep Israel in the contest assuming of course they pay the price for it. Israel should ask their allies in Azerbaijan for pointers…
I always want to ask those Palestine supporters where were they when Azerbaijan expelled 120,000 Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh. Palestine supporters are doing the right thing, don’t get me wrong. I’m just wondering why does it work only one way?
Because the loud, violent and rich rule the world.
So true. Armenia deserves to win the contest. Or a very good result at least.
People are not consistent. That’s true. But let’s remember most people were displaced and forced to move. That part already happened here. Only that the refugee camps where the displaced people ended up also got bombed and tens of thousands of people are dead.
In that sense, the EBU are not consistent. Russia can’t do war. But other states can.
Because they were expelled…and not m u r d e r e d, especially women and kids, hospitals and schools were not completely destroyed. Horrific incident but very different from what is going on in Israel and Palestine.
Because people are against Isreal and Jews. They’re anti semetic.
My first thought: is KAN looking for a “way out” without downright saying they’re withdrawing because of the international pressure? I mean as far as we know the song is still being checked by EBU. Is KAN sending signals they want out, or do they think such statements will force EBU to accept the song no matter what it is about? Interesting turn of events.
Perfect opportunity for EBU to row back on previous commitments to let them stay. Still a chance for them to save face.
Let them withdraw, it’s no great loss, in fact the Eurovision ideology wouldn’t be bloodstained.
I think most of us just like to hear decent songs. It is, after all, a song contest
It’s a song contest created to bring peace to Europe after WW2.
Antagonists, murderers and facists aren’t welcome. Live in your ignorance if you must. That’s on you.
I don’t think Eden, or innocent Israeli people are any of those things. They are welcome to participate in and enjoy Eurovision like the rest of us.
She sings a song about war, she’s just as complicit and far from innocent.
Grearmt to hear that you had the exclusivity of listening to her song before everyone else. Give us the lyrics, 2-braincells, we want to know them
Look at you resorting to insults, calling someone “2 brain cells” …ew how common
Learn to get your point across without the verbal abuse, then we will talk.
It says more about you than it does about me, that you feel name calling is your only way to win a debate.
Kisses, coz there’s a pain in you
1-0. GOAL!!!
Great shot @Darren.
If they support the Israeli government then they are not innocent…
Hey are all Eurovision fans on here angry and bitter? Some of the Polish ones were bad enough on Luna’s story! Any nice ones…anyone…?
We are pretty nice! But we also have some morals and awareness to know that the country that’s doing g*no*id* shouldn’t be allowed at festival that celebrates love and unity – even less to come to the same festival with a song that glorifies all evil that they are doing. No, honey. Let’s have some decency.
I doubt that her song will ‘glorify evil’
Oh God, I mustn’t get excited, I mustn’t get excited…
Same!
First of all, these are all rumours, but let’s talk about it seriously for a second, as an Israeli. None of us can really judge the song because we haven’t heard it, so let’s all chill. If the EBU decide the song is too political, I fully understand and accept that, but we should really read the lyrics before making any assumptions about it. My hope was that the song would just speak of the pain of October 7th, nothing else. If that is the case, I disagree with the EBU on that but still respect their decision. I don’t… Read more »
Andrew excellent post
An excellent post I meant! Haha
While I completely agree with your point of view Kan and the ministry of culture has released an official statement before the EBU decision is reached which does suggest that whether the song is a political or not the broadcaster and Israeli government are seeking to politicise situation.
I have no trust in our politicians when it comes to Eurovision, because they don’t really care about the contest, they just want to get more support from their voters, especially now that many people don’t want them to be elected again after the attack.
I don’t know what game they’re playing but it seems like no one will win it… Only those who can’t wait to see us banned or just out of the contest, which totally saddens me…
Bye bye. You are the weakest link.
Please exit stage left.
Toda Raba.
As long as the song promotes peace and not violence then it could be okay. You raise a good point on the fact none of us have heard it yet.
I don’t think we will ever promote violence in a song, so I truly believe the song just wants to put the spotlight on the Israeli pain of October 7th, nothing else. After going through the attack and the whole war, experiencing so much hate online, whether social media or video games I play and now we might lose Eurovision, I’m just sad most of the time… I don’t mind when people are talking about the casualties of the Palestinians, we should always talk about it, but when people are talking only about them and try to ignore us, that’s… Read more »
Ok , facts District G side; 28.000 + mortal victims , more than 1.000.000 displaced, hungry and dying human souls.
District Israel aprox 1100 innocent humans killed in those aweful attacks.130 hostages still being kept captive, 100’s of IDF soldiers in the war with H @m@s, many people called up to arms and 1000’s of inhabitans evacuated from the bordering inflicted areas.
This isnt a nice picknick in the park.
We arent ignoring all human suffering.
Lets pray wiser leadership decisions will be taken soon.
You might acknowledge it, but some don’t, that’s the problem.
By the way, there are also many displaced Israeli people following the attack, though they have a place to stay at.
You must have prob reading properly my pumkins.
i wrote this lood and clearly.
I acknowledge human suffering on both sides.
Having enough too much of the Boo hoo wooo, we are the victems online oneliner!!
the trapped crowds in District G even havent these means as their internet connection is disabled many times.
Let’s not forget we are talking about two government abusing their own as well. No one in the G district is allowed to publicly criticise the governing terrorist organisation. They are very much afraid to do so even though many people don’t want conflict. In the state where KAN is broadcaster you cannot have the two countries flags together in a protest. You’re not allowed to publicly say the very word that happened to 6 million Jews, homosexuals and other people in Nazi Germany. It’s not legal to make any comparison although the leader in the country wants to eliminate… Read more »
Thank You for those Wise Words spoken my Dear fellow Human.
Im glad brighter souls are Making Up their Minds .
Humanity isnt lost Finally.
The current Global situation is a huge mess.
Great human suffering and big loses on all sides.
Lets sing all a song of Peace and Love on Eath!!………………….LaLaLaLa
I hope the title of the winning not released yet entry of ESC24.
Would be: “Dancing on the vulcano and my feet hurt”.
PEACE
Yes. Hope not to see Israel in Eurovision 2024…
Why though?
Read the room.
You haven’t even heard the song!
Who cares about the song,
who wants to vote for a song for the win, that is responsible for current g.enocide?
How is the song responsible for that?
The power of music, huh? XD
Those arguments really couldn’t be more ridiculous, right? Neither will kicking Israel out result in a change of Israeli policies. Nor does having Israel compete with a simple song make the EBU complicit in any imaginary ‘war crimes’.
That said, Israel of course mustn’t be allowed to send something political. And KAN should be ashamed of itself for even trying. But so should the majority of people on here. Apparently you’ve got no clue at all about the values of Eurovision. Building bridges my *ss.
Were you campaigning this hard for Russia to stay? Or Belarus?
Why less country to challenge his country, maybe…
Because they’re anti semetic andin contempt with a t#rro#st organisation. Sorry but if your against Isreal and their participation your choosing to be for H@m@s, you have forgotten who started this war.
Me too
Israel out, Iran in, that’s what i want
bring us the King of Persian bops: Shahram Shabpareh, an artist who never gets political, like ever with his songs, a bop like ”tameh tamehro” please
You’re confusing ‘political’ with ‘human’. There’s nothing bad about artists making reference to human atrocities in their songs
But if Iceland would sent Bashar you all are screaming its rigged and that whole the world is anti-semitic with a global plott against you as everybody hates you.
Another perfect Catch22.
Show me more. You are masters in showing true colours.
The cherry on top. That clown want Iran in the contest after what happened with the woman that dxed because of the police. So cynical..
I genuinely don’t see the problem with Israel’s participation. If the song makes reference to the awful atrocities, isn’t it a human statement as opposed to political?
If it’s referencing an ongoing current event such as a war, it is a political statement.
And?
I’m sure the song is referencing the needless death of innocent people. It should 100% be allowed and I hope it does well
And..its against the rules of the contest. End of.
The people are always innocent. Politicians decide that there is a war. And they force people to participate in it. When it comes to this specific war people on both sides have been brainwashed by their respective governments that the “other” are the bad guys. Let us hope the people will win against the oppressor regimes one day.
Waterloo 2024.
i think there is no place for a country that is involved with such monstrosities at a celebration like Eurovision. I don’t care if they withdraw or are disqualified. As long as they won’t be there.
So every country should be judged by their politics and governments? That’s unfair on Israeli Eurovision fans no?
Maroc-oil ESC24 sponsor will hand out free tissues.
Dont worry pumpkin. You are being taken care of.
No worries. We love ya.
We love ALL Humans for that matter of fact.
Are you high
Is stating taking care and love all human being a label of being high??
I pity and have merci about the state of your souls.
Rusia?
Rusia?
I don’t remember anyone having much sympathy for Russian or Belarusian Eurovision fans
Israel only brings trouble and taints international organizations. Bye Felicia!
And what about innocent Israeli people?
And what about the innocent G/aza children starving to death?
But innocent Israeli people aren’t to blame. Are you tarring all Israeli’s with one brush?
You played with fire for decades. Own up to the consequences of tormenting people living in the Palestinian territories.
Me personally? I’m British luv
Why does the H@m@s refuse to let international help enter G@za to help people ? Why did they attack Israel on October ?
No one is sending aid to Gâza because Israhell has full control of the blockade, and reject humanitarian aid sent by virtually anyone. They attacked cus you basically occupied their land for decades and terrorised them for years.
It’s reported by many reporters worldwide that H@m@s blocks the entry of G@z@ to the international NGO that came to help the people. They manipulating everything and people think this is ok.
The occupation doesn’t justify the death of the 1000 persons that died. Actually, none of us should talk about this subject cause it’s none of our business. Both sides are guilty in any case. That’s why I don’t support both of them.
Admins should be deleting comments that refer to Isreal as Isreahell like they do in some Facebook Eurovision groups it’s an act of anti semitism. If your not deleting such comments it’s shows your in contempt of anti semitism.
They can live without a song contest.
Ga.za children however cant live without food
that Is.rael is denying them by not letting aid trucks across the border!
Innocent Israeli people aren’t to blame though are they!!!
I would agree with that if it was just the goverment doing, but sadly huge majority of I.srael people support what is going on in Pal.estine, thanks to the brainwashing of the media they are being fed.
You know this how? Media, by any chance?
Thats what they also said about germans in the 30’s.
We all know how that came to fruition. Isnt it?
Noo I dont use Tik tok.
No noo no, by the grace of God Almighty.
Israel will sent as a sign of good will Aid-trucks in to the occupied terrorties. Distributing portable radios to the 1m+ displaced and starving humans in District G.
So they can listen to the Lala Love and Peace message of ESC24.
They will understand and get enlightened in their souls.
If they refuse it? Yeah it shows they are the bad guys.
Waterloo 2024.
Due to USA funds you could built the Iron Dome protecting yourselfs against rockets from District G.
Mostly setting fire on a field or a few cars in the southern israeli lands. Any mortal victems should be remembered as on both sides of the fence.
District G, W-est Bank or Lebanon dont have these modern AI technologies protecting them. Their mortal toll is so much higher.
This isnt a just moral cause being fought over.
You need to go lie down
hahahaha, NEVER!!
Untill your crooked peoples are silenced and understand their wrongdoing.
Your intolerance are keeping me alive for that matter.
Cannot have a debate without anti semitism. I don’t agree with Israel politics. But I say no to hatred towards anyone. Stop that now!
Thank you for your comment.
Im against hate also.
Only if Im getting backfired all this hate as reaction on my comments.
I sometimes cant frame my words properly.
Great respect for those who can from whatever side of the camps.
I’m very sorry for innocent Israeli people. I am especially sorry they have a government that cannot honour their deaths in a better way than to improve their own power, move to a full scale war and change the juridical system so that the remaining innocent people have less rights.
Maybe both Russia and Israel should be able to participate under neutral flag like in sports championships. But I’m not sure. I mean, the people are not responsible for their governments.
Please stay < 3
Anyway stream “Here to stay”