Israel agrees to change Eurovision song lyrics

Israel has agreed to change the lyrics of its Eurovision Song Contest entry after being accused of being politically motivated.

The original song, titled “Set Me Free” by Eden Alene, contained lyrics that were seen as referencing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, requested that Israel make changes to the song in order to comply with the competition’s rules prohibiting political statements.

Israeli broadcaster KAN has confirmed that they will be making the necessary changes to the lyrics of the song to ensure that it complies with the EBU’s regulations. It is not yet clear what specific changes will be made to the lyrics.

The Eurovision Song Contest is known for its strict rules against political messages in songs, and countries that violate these rules can face disqualification from the competition. Israel has won the contest four times in the past, with their most recent victory coming in 2018 with the song “Toy” by Netta Barzilai.

Israel’s Eurovision entry “Set Me Free” will compete in the second semi-final of the contest on May 20, and the grand final will take place on May 22 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.