The disqualification of the Israeli song for the Eurovision Song Contest due to its political message is being considered

AUTHOR: M.J.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is considering whether to disqualify the Israeli song "October Rain" for the Eurovision Song Contest because it contains a political message, Israeli media reported today, citing European sources.
The song sung by singer Eden Golan was scheduled to be broadcast last week, but the broadcast was delayed for a few more days.
Israeli media say the reason for the delay is the EBU's request to review and approve the song's lyrics in advance, to ensure it does not contain political messages.
Sources cited by the Israeli news site Ynet state that the request is not unusual for Israel, and that the provision on the prohibition of political messages has been part of the Eurovision regulations for several years.
With the EBU signaling its intention to disqualify the song, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation has decided not to change the words, even if it means Israel will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest this year.
The Israeli corporation said after the news was released that it was currently "talking to the EBU about the song".
The EBU has not commented anything so far.
Israeli media report that the song alludes to the attacks by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, when around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 250 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip.
More than 29,000 people, mostly women and children, died in the Israeli attacks on Gaza in retaliation.
Some activists have called for Israel to be banned from the competition because of the war in Gaza, but the EBU believes that the country should be allowed to participate.