Despite being heavy favorite, Palestinian singer loses bid to rep Iceland at Eurovision

Jerusalem-born Palestinian artist Bashar Murad loses out to singer Hera Bjork to represent Iceland at this year’s Eurovision competition, despite being the heavy favorite to advance.

Murad — who took to the stage tonight in a white jacket dotted with red, as well as an embroidered broken heart — had entered his song “Wild West” for contention, and while he made it to the top two “super-finalists,” he ultimately lost to Bjork’s “Scared of Heights.”

His song, he said, is “about longing for freedom of movement,” and includes lyrics “I’m on the road again, how did it come to this?/ Don’t know where I’m going, but I’m looking for eternal bliss,” while the music video includes heavy use of the colors of the Palestinian flag.

After his performance tonight, Murad says on air that he feels it is strange “to be here celebrating while my people are being exterminated. I hope that I can keep telling the story of Palestine and Palestinians.”

Israel’s participation, meanwhile, hangs in the balance while the Kan public broadcaster and the Eurovision organizers are locked in a standoff over the lyrics for its submission, which the EBU has reportedly disqualified for being too political.