Eurovision contestant Noa Kirel says she hopes public broadcaster won’t be shut down

Pop star Noa Kirel, who is slated to represent Israel at this year’s Eurovision, says she is opposed to a government proposal to shut down the Kan public broadcaster.

“I very much hope that the public broadcaster doesn’t close and that it won’t affect the Eurovision,” Kirel tells Ynet. “I believe that it will work out — I see the Eurovision as a national mission and I believe they won’t harm such a thing.”

Kirel says that nobody has mentioned anything to her about the potential of Kan being shut down, and “we’re moving ahead with plans completely as normal” ahead of the May contest in the UK.

Kan’s membership in the European Broadcasting Union is what enables Israel to compete in the Eurovision song contest. Closing Kan or splitting off its news division would call its EBU membership into question.