In Britain, the controversy over the Eurovision Song Contest usually revolves around Terry Wogan’s participation, but in Israel it is taken much more seriously.
When it was announced that Christian Arab singer Mira Awad would perform alongside Jewish songstress Achinoam Nini, known as Noa, Israeli Arabs were furious.
An open letter posted by Arab Israeli artists and intellectuals complained that Awad was “participating in the Israeli propaganda machine... Please Mira, for the children of Gaza… don’t be an accomplice to the killing machine”.
Meanwhile, if the Israelis are serious about the contest, they should send a couple of Russian olim to sing something Slavic — that’s the only you win it these days.