Stockholm - Israel's representatives for the Eurovision song contest said yesterday they were standing by plans to perform brandishing both their own country's flag and that of Syria, Israel's long-time enemy.
The group, Ping-Pong, caused a stir on Thursday when they produced the flags during rehearsals for the competition, which this year is being staged in Stockholm. "I think politics has nothing to do with this contest," said the head of the Israeli delegation, Mr Haime Meluban.
But Ms Melissa Stern, spokeswoman for the group, said yesterday that it would perform as planned. A group member, Mr Guy Asif, told Israel's army radio: "We came to Stockholm to bring pleasure, peace and love and if they stop us from waving Israeli and Syrian flags in our act there's no point in singing our song.