Herzog to Aden Golan before going to the Eurovision: “We trust you and support you”

Israel’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, Aden Golan, today (Tuesday) received the blessing of the country’s President Yitzhak Herzog, before leaving for the competition that will be held in about a month in Malmö, Sweden.

Herzog: “There were those who questioned why the president interfered with the performance of the State of Israel on the Eurovision stage. I repeat my position again: in whatever arena Israel needs to be, she will be. She must make her voice sound brilliant, especially when she has such a beautiful voice. We should not be ashamed to show our spiritual and cultural strengths; And therefore, those who know, know why and to what extent I was involved. I’m very happy that you’ll be there on stage and I’m sure you’ll perform great because you’re a great singer, because there’s a great team and because we believe in you.’

The president added: “I believed from the first moment, and I insist that Israel should be present in every arena in the world. There are terrible forces that try to exclude us from everywhere, especially in the worlds of spirit and culture. Israel has tremendous spiritual strengths and cultures, and we have wonderful singers. Eden’s voice will echo from one end of the world to the other. I am confident in her abilities and am happy that she will fly the Israeli flag proudly, because that is how it should be done everywhere in the world.’

Eden shared the president’s excitement and feelings for the Eurovision, saying: “We really have one nation, I feel enormous support from everyone, and a warmth that gives me this strength – to move and continue, and it’s amazing that we are like one big family, and we are here for each other. We are here and will always be here. I feel enormously honored to have this privilege, to stand there on stage with my voice, and show everyone who we are and our beautiful nation.”

The president wished Aden good luck and said: “When you get on stage we will all be with you, the whole nation will be with you, the whole Jewish world, all lovers of Israel, everyone will be with you.”

The director Yoav Tzafir, who is in charge of the delegation, thanked the president: “We all know what hardships we went through with the song this year.” It’s a year like no other, and I know about your involvement. I think the move you led was very correct, because it’s a slippery slope. Israel must participate in Eurovision, and if it doesn’t participate in Eurovision then you know, maybe we wouldn’t be in the Olympics, maybe we wouldn’t be in the Euros either.”