Israel’s Eurovision contestant enlists in the army

The singer who represented Israel at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in May has enlisted in the occupation state’s army, Israeli media reported.

Eden Golan, who came fifth in the competition with her son ‘Hurricane’, is due to begin her mandatory military service on Thursday.

Golan lived in the Russian capital Moscow for years and returned to Israel when she was 18.

Conscripts are usually enlisted at that age, however as she had just moved to Israel she was not called up immediately, and subsequently delayed the call-up the following year as she had been chosen to participate in Eurovision.

In an interview with Israel’s Ynet News published last week Golan said: “But I believe serving your country is vital, especially in today’s reality.”

Her time in the occupation army comes as Israel continues its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 41,200 Palestinians and injured over 95,500 since 7 October.

There had been widespread calls for Israel not to be allowed to participate in this year’s Eurovision as a result of its bombing campaign in Gaza. Activists highlighted that Russia had been banned in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

Israel was permitted to compete after it agreed to modify the lyrics of its original song ‘October Rain’ which the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said made reference to the 7 October Palestinian resistance infiltration of Israeli towns. EBU brands Eurovision a non-political event and insists that the contest is between public service broadcasters, not governments.

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