Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Arab Singers Duet for Peace

MAY 15 2009 · 12:20

Noa & Mira Awad · "There Must Be Another Way" · Israel · 2009 Placement: 16 · Score: 53 · Language: Hebrew, Arabic, English · Composers: Noa Alberstein, Mira Awad, Gil Dor · Venue: Olimpiysky · Host: Moscow, Russia · Type: political statement · Broadcast: digital hd Noa — Israeli-Jewish vocalist Achinoam Nini — and Mira Awad — Israeli-Arab (Palestinian-Arab citizen of Israel) vocalist — take the Moscow Olimpiysky stage in matching flowing white dresses and deliver 'There Must Be Another Way' in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. The song is explicit about Israeli-Palestinian coexistence. 53 points for 16th place. Alexander Rybak wins for Norway. Context The 2008-2009 Gaza conflict had concluded months before Eurovision. Noa had been a leading Israeli peace-movement artist. Mira Awad's participation was politically controversial within the Israeli-Arab community — some activists argued she was being used for pink-washing purposes; others argued her participation normalized Arab-Israeli cultural equality. The song was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize consideration. Legacy The Noa-Awad 2009 duet is one of Eurovision's most-cited political coexistence performances. Noa continued as an international performer based in Israel. Mira Awad faced professional boycotts from Palestinian audience segments while gaining international respect. Subsequent Eurovision Israeli entries have not attempted similar duet diplomacy; the 2009 card stands as a specific moment.