The EBU has approved KAN’s new song for Eden Golan which is entitled ‘Hurricane’. This means that Israel will be allowed to compete in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

After previously submitted entries were allegedly rejected by the EBU, the two parties seem to finally come to an agreement over the final song. Initially, Israel’s public broadcaster refused to change the lyrics of the previously rejected songs which contained heavy political undertones. However, since the country’s president got involved in the matter – KAN has worked to send a song which is accepted by the EBU.

According to the broadcaster, ‘Hurricane’ is a song about a woman that is going through personal struggles. The new lyrics will be sung to the melody of a previously rejected song and will be released on a live TV broadcast on Sunday March 10.

In February, Israel’s place in the contest was reaffirmed by the EBU amidst the ongoing six-month genocide in Gaza. The organising body claims that Eurovision is a non-political event where EBU member public broadcasters compete with the chosen songs. According to the EBU General Director “the Israeli public broadcaster KAN met all the competition rules for this year and can participate, as it has for the past 50 years.”

Many fans recall that Russia was excluded from Eurovision in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine, while Belarus was also excluded in 2021 after two songs were submitted and rejected due to political lyrics. Various selected artists from this year’s lineup have expressed concerns over the country’s Eurovision participation – namely Windows95man from Finland, Gåte from Norway and Bambie Thug from Ireland. Iceland’s participation is still in discussion because of Israel’s inclusion.

Israel is set to compete in the second half of the second semi final on May 9th.