Song Contest
Eden Golan represents Israel at the ESC in Sweden
This year’s ESC final will take place on May 11th in Malmö. photo
© Andy Von Pip/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Because of the Gaza war, there are calls to exclude Israel from the ESC in Malmö. The organizers reject this, saying the song contest is apolitical. Is that really him?
Singer Eden Golan will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) represented in Sweden. The 20-year-old beat three other candidates in the final of the television show “Hakochav Haba” (“The Next Star”) on Tuesday evening. She impressed the jury and the audience with the song “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith, which she sang again after her victory and dedicated it to the hostages held in the Gaza Strip and their families. According to the media, which song the singer will perform at the ESC in May will be decided next month.
Golan lives in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media, she spent most of her childhood in Russia but returned to Israel two years ago. “This year I’m more than ever looking forward to representing my country on the biggest stage in Europe,” said the singer, according to the ESC. Meanwhile, Israeli media are already warning of hostility and protests that could be directed against the singer in Malmö.
In some countries and on social networks, voices have now become loud that are calling for Israel to be excluded from this year’s ESC because of the Gaza war. There were also calls for a boycott in Finland, Iceland and other countries. In view of the many victims and suffering among the civilian population, there is international criticism of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip after the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel.
The ESC organizers are against excluding Israel. According to them, the event should remain apolitical. However, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the organizers announced in 2022 that no Russian act would be allowed to take part in the ESC – Russia is also missing this year. This year’s final will take place on May 11th in Malmö.