Geopolitics
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The political song selected by Israel is being debated while several petitions are already calling for the exclusion of the Jewish state from the semi-final of the competition, the May 9 in Malmö, Sweden.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes its way to Eurovision, much to the dismay of its organizers. On the occasion of this 68th edition planned in Sweden, it is the song of the Israeli candidate which raises questions, accused of carrying a political message, which is strictly prohibited by the regulations. And Israel has been clear that if the organizers refuse the words, the country will withdraw from the competition.
It is the 20-year-old singer Eden Golan who must travel to Malmö, Sweden, to represent her country in the second semi-final of the competition, on Thursday, May 9. If the words of his song, October Rain, do not explicitly mention the Hamas-Israel conflict, nor the October 7 attack, they leave no doubt about the fact that they are the subject, report Israeli media and observers.
“Dancing in the storm”
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) broadcast the lyrics on February 22. “Dancing in the storm / We have nothing to hide / Take me home / And leave the world behind / And I promise it will never happen again / I’m still wet from this October rain / October rain”, intones its refrain. A verse adds: “We are doomed to disappear but love will never die.”
The European Broadcast Union (EBU), org