The Public Television Company demanded an explanation from the Israeli Public Broadcaster for the comments made by their television commentator after the Armenian participant’s performance during the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Channel One presents an official letter from the Director General of the Israeli Public Broadcaster to the Executive Director of the Public Television Company of Armenia, in which the Israeli side apologizes for the presenter’s statements.
“Eurovision broadcasts in Israel are traditionally accompanied by humorous and light-hearted commentaries, during which the pair of commentators make funny and interesting observations about the songs, performers, and participating countries.
During the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, the commentators made direct, humorous comments about the Armenian song, as in almost all performances. One of the jokes above, which was directed exclusively at the song and not at the country or the Armenian people, unintentionally offended some members of the Armenian community. This was, of course, not entirely intentional.
On the contrary, on several occasions, members of the Israeli delegation have highlighted the connection between Armenia and the song and emphasized the warm relations between the two delegations. When we learned that the comment was perceived as an insult, the commentator who made it publicly apologized on his platform. In addition, the commentators will present a clarification during tonight’s live broadcast.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, KAN, sincerely apologizes for this humorous comment. We wish Parg and the Armenian team success during today’s performance. With respect, Golan Yochpaz, Director General of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.”
Immediately after Parg’s performance, Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 commentator Assaf Lieberman said: “I can’t believe we gave these people an entire district of Jerusalem.”
