Israel has said that it asked lyricists to revise its proposed Eurovision Song Contest entries, potentially heading off a dispute with organisers over political content, AFP reports.

Authorities last week said Israel would not be able to participate in this year’s edition of the popular competition if organisers rejected the song choice, which reportedly referenced victims of Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel.

Eurovision rules ban political content. This year’s competition is set to be held in Sweden in May.

In a statement on Sunday, Israeli public broadcaster Kan said President Isaac Herzog had called for “necessary adjustments” that would ensure Israel’s inclusion in the event, which it has won four times.

The Israeli broadcaster “contacted the lyricists of the two selected songs, ‘October Rain’ which was chosen in first place, and ‘Dance Forever’ which came in second place, and asked them to readapt the texts, while preserving their artistic freedom”, the statement said.

“Among the new texts that will be proposed, Kan will choose the song that will be sent to the Eurovision supervisory committee, so that it approves Israel’s participation in the competition.”

The selected song, to be performed by 20-year-old Russian-Israeli singer Eden Golan, will be revealed on March 10, the statement said.

One line from the original lyrics of “October Rain” read: “They were all good children, every one of them.” “There is no air left to breathe, There is no place for me,” the song ends, according to Kan, which has published the lyrics in full on its website.