Following widespread backlash from Armenian communities worldwide, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) issued an official apology over a controversial remark made after Armenia’s performance during the live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The apology followed criticism from the Save The ArQ Movement in Jerusalem and a formal request for clarification by Armenia’s Public Television.
During the broadcast, a commentator on Kan 11 made deeply offensive remarks undermining Armenia’s historical presence in Jerusalem. The Armenian community’s 1,700-year-old legacy in the Holy City is not up for cheap insults or revisionist comments.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Armenia’s Public Television confirmed it had formally requested clarification from the Israeli broadcaster and called for an apology.
In a letter addressed to Hovhannes Movsisyan, Director of Armenia’s Public TV, on May 17, 2025, KAN CEO Golan Yochpaz described the remark as “a joke [that] was aimed solely at the song and not at the country or the Armenian people,” and expressed regret that “it unintentionally offended members of the Armenian community.”
Below is the full statement:
“Clarification from the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation Regarding the Satirical Eurovision Commentary
- Eurovision broadcasts in Israel are traditionally accompanied by satirical and light-hearted commentary, in which the commentator duo offers humorous and entertaining insights on the songs, performers, and participating countries.
- During the broadcast of the second Eurovision semi-final, the commentators made some lighthearted jokes about the Armenian song – just as they do with most entries. One of the jokes – who addressed solely toward the song and not at the country or the Armenian people – unintentionally offended members of the Armenian community, and that was certainly not the intention.
- On the contrary, on several occasions, members of the Israeli delegation highlighted the Israeli connection to the Armenian song and the warm relationship between the two delegations.
- Once we learned that the commentary was perceived as offensive, the commentator who made the remark issued an apology on his personal account. In addition a clarification will be provided by the commentators during the upcoming broadcast tonight.
- KAN – The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation apologizes for the satirical remark.
- We wish Parg and the whole Armenian team good luck ahead of the show tonight.”
Background:
During the live broadcast of Eurovision 2025 on Thursday, a Kan 11 commentator made the remark: “I can’t believe we gave a whole quarter in Jerusalem to these guys” — immediately sparking outrage.
The comment was publicly condemned by the Save The ArQ (Save the Armenian Quarter) Movement in Jerusalem, which described it as disturbing, baseless, racist, and offensive—targeting an ancient community that has been an inseparable part of Jerusalem’s religious and cultural fabric for nearly 1,700 years.
The Armenian Quarter is one of four historic quarters within Jerusalem’s Old City, alongside the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Quarters. It was not “given,” as implied in the remark, but built and sustained by generations of Armenians over centuries—stone by stone—through empires, wars, and displacements. The community’s presence in Jerusalem dates back to 301 AD, the year Armenia became the first Christian nation.
In recent years, the Armenian presence has come under threat from private developers, Israeli settler organizations, and increasing municipal interventions. The Save The ArQ Movement was founded in response to these pressures, aiming to defend the integrity of this historic enclave.
In its May 16 statement, the movement emphasized that such remarks go far beyond satire, striking at the dignity of a community that has endured genocide, exile, and repeated attempts at erasure—and yet continues to stand firm in Jerusalem. “We will not allow broadcasters—or any other parties—to undermine historical truth or tarnish the dignity of an entire community and a nation,” the movement declared.
