Eurovision: The Man that (Almost) Represented Palestine

Following in the steps of… Celine Dion

Palestine is not represented in the Eurovision. The reason for that is no mystery: the local broadcaster is not a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that organises the event. Yet one Palestinian performer decided he would try anyway last year – and an online petition wants to give him a second chance this year as well.

After visiting Iceland a few times to work with the group Hatari, Palestinian singer and filmmaker Bashar Murad noticed that Eurovision candidates do not necessarily have to be from the country they represent. The example he gives: Celine Dion, who sang – and won - for Switzerland in 1988.

With local songwriter Einar Stefan, he put together the track “Wild West” and submitted it to the Icelandic organisers for the 2024 edition. The colourful fake Country & Western track reached second spot but was pipped to the post by the house track “Scared of Heights” by Hera Björk.

In the run-up to the Eurovision 2025 final on May 17, an online petition was started to get Murad a spot on the show. To be clear, there is practically zero possibility of him representing a country that is not a member of EBU - not least because the event is just two weeks away. But finding a guest spot somewhere on the show could go a long way to restoring the disastrous reputation of the Eurovision and help the atmosphere on the night.

Meanwhile, Murad is bringing his hybrid pop on the road for a series of European concerts between now and August.