Amid war, broadcaster says Israel’s next Eurovision song will include Hebrew lyrics

The Kan public broadcaster opens up its selection process for Israel’s Eurovision song this year, and unlike past contests, the song will be required to have some Hebrew lyrics.

While the contestant this year will be chosen via the Keshet 12 reality show “Next Star,” the song will be selected as in years past by a professional committee, which will “listen to all the songs and choose the most worthy song to represent Israel in light of the complicated period Israel is experiencing in recent months.”

While Eurovision does not require participating nations to perform in their native language — a requirement it dropped in 1999 — Israel is seeking to include Hebrew in the song as its war against Hamas rages on and antisemitism spikes worldwide.

The song selection will be revealed in March, and this year’s contest is slated for May 7-11 in Malmo, Sweden. Participants in some countries have called for Israel to be barred from the competition, citing the ongoing war, but the European Broadcasting Union, which hosts the event, has ignored such petitions.