Palestinians try to enter Eurovision song contest

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinians launched a campaign on Thursday to enter next year's Eurovision song contest, hoping to go head to head with contestants from Israel and other countries.

Palestinian officials said preparations were under way to try to qualify for the popular song contest in 2008. They said the effort had the full support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"Our participation in Eurovision 2008 is a sign that they will view us as a state, even though we're not a state," Bassem Abu Sumaya, head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, told a news conference.

As part of the qualification process, the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation must become an active member of the European Broadcasting Union. Officials said an application has been made.

To select a Eurovision entry, the Palestinians will hold a local song contest later this year, organizers said.

Earlier this month Eurovision organizers decided to allow Israel's entry "Push the Button" into this year's competition despite complaints about its lyrics, which refer to nuclear war.

Songs with a political message are generally not allowed at the contest usually dominated by pop tunes, and some countries have been asked to alter the lyrics of their entries in the past, Eurovision organizers have said.

Israel has won three Eurovision competitions, the most recent in 1998 when transsexual Dana International wowed audiences with "Diva."

Reuters/Nielsen