President says he’s working to solve Eurovision spat: ‘It’s important that Israel appear’

President Isaac Herzog says he is trying to help to solve a disagreement between Israel’s public broadcaster and the Eurovision organizers over the nature of the song Jerusalem plans to submit to this year’s contest.

“I think it’s important for Israel to appear in Eurovision, and this is also a statement because there are haters who try to drive us off every stage,” the president says at a conference in Jerusalem, according to Hebrew media reports.

“Being smart is not just being right,” he adds.

The body that organizes the global singing competition is pushing back against Israel’s song selection — “October Rain” by Eden Golan — as too political amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war sparked by the terror group’s October 7 massacres.

Eurovision 2024: Eden Golan to represent Israel
Israeli show 'HaKokhav HaBa' (‘The Next Star’) on Tuesday selected Eden Golan, 20, from Tel Aviv, to represent the country at Eurovision 2024, as the contest organizers continue to face calls to bar Israel's participation over its… pic.twitter.com/dPDxUbJsMz

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) February 22, 2024