Israel amends Eurovision entry: Title and lyrics revised after EBU rejection
Israel has updated both the title and lyrics of its Eurovision Song Contest entry after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) deemed its previous submissions too politically charged.
cumhuriyet.com.trThe original song, "October Rain," and its first revision were both rejected for embedding political messages, prompting Israeli President Isaac Herzog to encourage adjustments to ensure Israel's participation in the contest.
The newly adapted entry, titled "Hurricane," aligns with EBU standards, as reported by Israel's Haaretz newspaper. This decision follows Herzog's advice, with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) announcing that the revised song will be released to the public on March 10.
Israel's second attempt, "Dance Forever," faced rejection from the EBU for reasons akin to those of "October Rain." Reports from Israeli media highlighted that both songs alluded to the October 7 attack on Israel by the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, leading to their disqualification.