REYKJAVIK — Palestinian
singer
Bashar Murad advanced on Saturday to the semi-finals of Iceland's
Eurovision contestant selection process, with watermelon images screened in the
background of his performance. If Murad wins the final to be held next weekend,
he will be Iceland's representative in the international song competition in
Sweden in May.
اضافة اعلان
Murad's song
is called "The Wild West," which he sings while wearing a cowboy hat.
As part of the performance, there are images of watermelon displayed in the
background. Watermelons has been associated in recent months with the
Palestinian struggle on social media worldwide, including Murad's handle on X.
Furthermore, watermelons can also be found displayed on the walls of stone
houses in Gaza, and art galleries in Ramallah.
Murad,
originally from East Jerusalem, studied at Rimon School of Music in central
Israel and is often vocal against Israel's occupation in interviews and in his
songs. Two years ago, he released a song in Arabic called "Intifada on the
Dance Floor," and in the past also collaborated with the Icelandic band
Hatari, who competed in the 2019 Eurovision contest held in Israel, and waved
Palestinian scarves and flags during the broadcast.
Murad's
possible participation in the Eurovision comes during a time when Israeli
participation in the Eurovision Contest is in turmoil. The EBU has threatened
to disqualify Israel's intended song entry, "October Rain," due to
its "political" lyrics, while the Israeli Public Broadcasting
Corporation announced that it has no intention of replacing the song or its
lyrics.
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