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The growing controversy over Israel’s Eurovision song entry (www.semafor.com)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by tree@lemmy.zip to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

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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.

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[-] Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc 90 points 4 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" 🤦

[-] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 79 points 4 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.world 36 points 4 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.

[-] PanArab@lemmy.ml 68 points 4 months ago

Russia was banned from Eurovision for much less. Truly a hypocritical and racist world.

[-] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 16 points 4 months ago

Russia did invade another member state, which is a bit of a no-no

[-] cyclohexane@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago

Did they kick out Britain and friends for invading Iraq?

What about France and friends when they invaded libya?

Invasions are only bad when they don't conform to the Western imperialist agenda :)

[-] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 3 points 4 months ago

Iraq isn't a member. Libya is but I think Libya actually joined only after fall of Gaddafi and the France thing.

Invasions are only bad when they don't conform to the Western imperialist agenda :)

Invading another member is always a bit of a no-no if you ask me.

[-] cyclohexane@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Ahh, sorry I forgot the part that humanity and ethics end at member states. I totally wouldn't expect a Euro fan to make that assertion :)

joined only after fall of Gaddafi

Wrong. 1974.

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[-] DmMacniel@feddit.de 57 points 4 months ago

Oh no Israel... Don't threaten us with a good time.

[-] luves2spooge@lemmy.world 54 points 4 months ago

Israel is not even in Europe

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 29 points 4 months ago

Honorary colonists.

[-] NoSpiritAnimal@lemmy.world 25 points 4 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.

[-] noobnarski@feddit.de 3 points 4 months ago

Skin cancer must be pretty prevalent in Israel.

(Like it is in Australia)

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[-] gazter@aussie.zone 19 points 4 months ago

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

[-] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 12 points 4 months ago

Hey don't blow our cover we have them tricked.

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[-] WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 months ago

They should call it Europe ‘n’ Friends.

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[-] tree@lemmy.zip 16 points 4 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.

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 44 points 4 months ago

Sounds like they think Israel's inclusion is make or break for the competition.

[-] mub@lemmy.ml 42 points 4 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.ee 13 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 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 8 points 4 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.zip 3 points 4 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

[-] plinky@hexbear.net 39 points 4 months ago

Wasn't like 3 songs last year "political".

Reject them cause they're genocidal ghouls, christ

[-] RedQuestionAsker2@hexbear.net 10 points 4 months ago

No, political is things that make me personally uncomfortable

[-] lorty@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 months ago

What's is "political" or not tends to be a political matter.

[-] Ixoid@lemmy.world 34 points 4 months ago

Don't threaten me with a good time

[-] Obonga@feddit.de 29 points 4 months ago

Just fucking do it already. Man they sure like to make bad publicity lately.

[-] Dolores@hexbear.net 23 points 4 months ago

Israel became the first non-European nation to compete in Eurovision in 1973

he-admit-it

[-] tree@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 months ago

To be fair to the euros they tried to both sides it and let arab/north african countries in, but those countries refused for obvious reasons.

[-] TomBombadil@hexbear.net 8 points 4 months ago

It would be pretty fuckin excellent if Palestine also had an entry also titled "October Rain". Just the Zionist complaining would be worth it.

[-] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 20 points 4 months ago

Guns and Roses gonna sue for song title plaigarism

[-] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 2 points 4 months ago

TIL October=November

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[-] CanadaPlus 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 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.

[-] m13@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago

Both Israel and Eurovision can get fucked.

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[-] qevlarr@lemmy.world 11 points 4 months ago

"You're not breaking up with me, I'm breaking up with you" vibes, it's pathetic

[-] EnderMB@lemmy.world 9 points 4 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.

[-] gentooer@programming.dev 9 points 4 months ago

While Brexit definitely didn't help, the UK entry was objectively really bad that year.

[-] aaaaaaadjsf@hexbear.net 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

How lazy must the song writing be for the Eurovision people to think it's too political? You can absolutely hide political messages in the lyrics, in a song about love, sex partying, etc, and the vast majority of people will not notice. Quite a few bands have made careers out of doing exactly that. I mean just from the song title, you know that they are going to be very heavy handed with it.