The growing controversy over Israel’s Eurovision song entry | Semafor
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Israel has threatened to withdraw from the contest if the lyrics of its entry, currently under review, are rejected for being too political.

They couldn’t resist breaking the rules lmao, but face no consequences, besides being mad about it

Israel has threatened to withdraw from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest if organizers decide to reject its entry amid wider calls for the country’s exclusion over its military campaign in Gaza.

The European Broadcasting Union is currently reviewing the lyrics of Israel’s entry, a song called “October Rain” by Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan, which is thought to reference the victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks. If the EBU decides Israel has breached its rules by submitting content deemed political, the body will allow it to submit new lyrics or a new song.

Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation earlier said it has “no intention to replace the song” if it is not approved, warning that it will pull out of the contest scheduled for May in Malmö, Sweden. Israel’s culture minister has stated that while the song reflects “the current public sentiment in Israel these days,” that doesn’t make it “a political song.”

Israel became the first non-European nation to compete in Eurovision in 1973, and has since won the competition four times.

read more: https://www.semafor.com/article/02/27/2024/israels-controversial-eurovision-song-entry

  • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
    78·
    8 months ago

    if it is not approved, warning that it will pull out of the contest scheduled for May in Malmö, Sweden.

    you can’t fire me give me a second chance, I quit (this contest)!

    Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan

    not a good time for this person to be political. Triple whammy (Golan heights is a controversial location)

    • SuperIce@lemmy.worldEnglish
      36·
      8 months ago

      I feel like she might have been chosen specifically because of the triple whammy. Allows them to cause more outrage and then cry about being a victim.

  • Annoyed_🦀 @monyet.cc
    75·
    8 months ago

    Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation earlier said it has “no intention to replace the song” if it is not approved, warning that it will pull out of the contest scheduled for May in Malmö, Sweden.

    Narcissistic nation think their presence is such a blessing that pulling out of the contest is deemed a “threat” 🤦

    • NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.world
      27·
      8 months ago

      Most Israelis are just immigrants from Europe/US. Even the singer in this article is actually Russian. Netanyahu’s real name is Mileikowsky. He graduated from Cheltenham High School outside of Philadelphia.

      Their current president Isaac Herzog is the first Israeli President actually born in Israel. His mother is from Egypt and his Father is from Ireland.

      Given the nature of Israel’s foundings this should be not terribly surprising. Israelis are just whites from Europe and The US.

    • gazter@aussie.zone
      19·
      8 months ago

      Eurovision has very little to do with being in Europe. Even Australia is in Eurovision, and they are definitely not in Europe.

        • NIB@lemmy.world
          2·
          8 months ago

          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest

          If you scroll down to the participation section, you will notice that all of northern Africa and some of middle east is eligible to participate(it has to do with old Telegraph networks). And some of them are participating or participated in the past.

          Most dont participate because Eurovision is gay as fuck and these countries dont like that. And because of Israel’s participation.

          Nowadays pretty much anyone can join. Even China was about to join but because they censored the broadcast(because one country had a gay singer and another had a tattooed one) the EBU kicked them out

          As a result, the EBU terminated its partnership with Mango TV, citing that censorship “is not in line with the EBU’s values of universality and inclusivity and its proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music,”

          • Cyclohexane@lemmy.ml
            1·
            8 months ago

            Most dont participate because Eurovision is gay as fuck and these countries dont like that.

            Source?

            • NIB@lemmy.world
              2·
              8 months ago

              Hungary left because it was too gay.

              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

              while no official reason for the withdrawal was given by the broadcaster, an inside source speaking with the website Index.hu speculated that the contest was considered “too gay” for MTVA to participate

              Turkey left because they didnt like the scoring system and because of lgbtq “In August 2018, İbrahim Eren, the Director-General of TRT, stated that TRT does not plan to return to the contest and break the boycott for various reasons, citing Conchita Wurst’s participation and eventual victory in 2014.”

              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

              Lebanon almost joined but didnt due to Lebanon’s laws banning the broadcast of Israeli content. Qatar, is outside of EBU, but kinda wanted to join but things seem to not have progressed since then. Tunisia tried to join but eventually withdrew because of Israel. Morocco participated once in the past, didnt do well and left. They also have issues with Israel.

              Generally their main issue is Israel but do you honestly think they would be ok with a song like this?

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaolVEJEjV4

              It is just that their Israel issue supersedes their issues with lgbtq. But if somehow everyone in Middle East loved Israel tomorrow, most of them would still abstain from Eurovision because of the lgbtq. In many of these countries, women arent even allowed to wear a miniskirt, do you think they would be willing to show Eurovision uncensored?

              PS Turkey even won Eurovision in 2003, and had plenty of top 5 finishes in the following years.

              • Cyclohexane@lemmy.ml
                3·
                8 months ago

                So based on your comment, Arab and north African nations didn’t refuse participating because it’s gay. It’s because the organization harborsca genocidal entity (Israel).

                they would be ok with a song like this?

                Yeah I don’t see the issue and I’m an Arab myself. There’s homophobia in our land, but I’m not sure why you people act like we’re the only exceptionally homophobic place on earth. I sense its a projection of how your nations handled homophobia at its peak. Arab nations are unlikely to have a song like this of their own, but they won’t boycott the competition for it.

                most of them would still abstain from Eurovision because of the lgbtq.

                Wrong and you have nothing to prove this :)

                In many of these countries, women arent even allowed to wear a miniskirt

                Wrong. There’s probably like one or two countries that do this (depending on how far east you are including). Saudi Arabia is the notable one (the state created by Britain), and Iran if you go that far east.

                Turkey

                Hungary

                Not Arab or north African.

                • NIB@lemmy.world
                  1·
                  8 months ago

                  Do you think that Hungary and Turkey are more conservative than your average arab nation? If lgbtq is an issue for these countries, dont you think it is safe to assume that this will be an issue for most arab countries?

    • tree@lemmy.zipOP
      15·
      8 months ago

      It only has to do with being an ebu/sister org member which many arab states are eligible to compete, but refuse to do so since Israel is in it/ in some cases having laws preventing the broadcasting of anything Israel was involved in making.

  • mub@lemmy.ml
    38·
    8 months ago

    Call me cynical, but I reckon they fully expect to get booted from the show and are intentionally milking the situation for propaganda purposes back home.

    • stillitcomes@lemm.eeEnglish
      11·
      8 months ago

      This is a pretty common take in Eurovision discussion boards atm.

      EBU doesn’t want the controversy of taking a stance on the I/P conflict, but most Eurovision fans are pro-Palestine and a lot are threatening to boycott if Israel does compete. And KAN (which is in charge of Israel’s entry) obv doesn’t want the humiliation of a guaranteed last place and potential harassment/security issues for the musician they send. Giving Israel the boot over the song (which, if you read the lyrics, is actually pretty subtle on what it’s referencing) is a win-win for everyone involved.

    • FriendBesto@lemmy.ml
      7·
      8 months ago

      To many, even valid criticism on reality itself can be labeled as anti-semetic if it can quiet any valid criticism on anything they want.

      I agree. It is a win-win. They stay, they get what they what, plus free victimhood PR… if they get kicked out, is not because they broke the rules, it is just because blatant antisemitism. They will twist it into victimhood PR, anyways. Prove me wrong.

      Staying withing guidelines was never an option.

    • tree@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      2·
      8 months ago

      IDK nothing indicated they would be booted, they pretty prominently announced they wouldn’t be restricting Israel from competing, to much controversy at that

  • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
    14·
    8 months ago

    Wow, thanks for kicking yourself out, guys. Now we don’t have to worry about the weird vibes when you’re up and get booed.

  • qevlarr@lemmy.world
    10·
    8 months ago

    “You’re not breaking up with me, I’m breaking up with you” vibes, it’s pathetic

  • EnderMB@lemmy.world
    9·
    8 months ago

    Why do they care? Eurovision voting is heavily politicised, which is clear to see when you look at the UK getting continuously pounded during times where it did things Europe disliked (war in Iraq, Brexit), and Ukraine winning during the war, with the UK suddenly doing well again. If Israel send someone, they’re going to spend several hours waiting around while they receive nil point.