The production team of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest approved Israel's broadcaster IBA application to arrive in Kyiv a day later than scheduled, thus changing the schedule of the semifinal's first round of rehearsals.

Shiri Maymon was first supposed to have her first round of rehearsals on Thursday May 12th being song number 7, meaning she would have had to arrive in Kyiv a day before. These exact days are also Israel's national memorial day and the 57th independence day. Spending the independence day abroad would have meant a real financial damage, since the national holiday is normaly a day when artists rush from stage to stage, performing all across the country.

IBA appealed the EBU and NTU , in request to allow the Israeli delegation to arrive on Friday May 13th.The official reason was never made public, although according to Ynet.co.il, the financial reason was it. At first the request was denied. Later on, when it appeared that a time slot was vacant on Friday, due to Lebanon's withdrawal, Shiri Maymon's request was approved. Thus, Shiri's rehearsals will take place in Kyiv on Friday and Saturday, May 13th and 14th. This kind of reschedule already happened in the past and for the same reasons: For instance in 2003, the Latvian entrants FLY agreed to switch rehearsals with Russia's TATU, who couldn't make it on time due to important performances.

Meanwhile, after the Israeli music channel, Channel 24, decided earlier this week to ban Shiri Maymon's new video clip to Hasheket Shenish'ar due to exaggerated commercial references,Ma'ariv newspaper reports today that the channel decided to make a special effort and sort the matter so that the video would still be broadcast in the channel.