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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Safi Bugel

Israel to compete at Eurovision song contest after changing lyrics to its entry

Eden Golan, Israel's representative for the 2024 Eurovision song contest, will now sing a ballad named Hurricane after the lyrics to the country’s original submission, October Rain, fell afoul of the contest’s rules on political neutrality
Eden Golan, Israel's representative for the 2024 Eurovision song contest, will now sing a ballad named Hurricane. Photograph: Reuters

Israel will be allowed to compete at the Eurovision song contest after changing the lyrics to its song, organisers have confirmed.

Eden Golan, representing Israel at this year’s competition, originally submitted a ballad called October Rain, widely thought to reference the Hamas attacks of 7 October. However, the entry was barred on the grounds of breaking rules on political neutrality.

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