Twitter's auto-translator did a massive disservice both to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to singer Netta Barzilai, who won the Eurovision song competition on Saturday night in Lisbon, bringing Israel its first victory in 20 years and its fourth since it first participated in 1973.
After the win, Netanyahu tweeted his congratulations in Hebrew, writing: "Netta, at kapparah amitit." The word "kapparah" is a slang term of endearment, and the sentence should have been translated as "Netta, you are a real darling."
Unfortunately, the Microsoft automatic translation tool read the word as "keparah," "like a cow," and turned the message into "Netta, you're a real cow."
The tweet caused dismay and confusion among Twitter followers, with non-Hebrew speakers wondering what the prime minister meant by it.
Public figures from across the political spectrum rushed to congratulate the singer on her victory, with many using the term "kapparah." The singer herself shouted the word at the end of her winning number on Saturday.
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay tweeted: "When a powerful woman like Netta uses a big international stage to talk about accepting others and says 'I love my country,' it's the best possible PR."
Gabbay, like Netanyahu, called Netta "kapparah" and wished her a happy Jerusalem Day this Sunday.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan added his praise.
"Wow. How exciting!" he said. "Netta is really the best of them all. This amazing victory is entirely down to her and the moving message she has for everyone: accepting ourselves as we are and being proud of what we have."
Meretz Chairwoman Tamar Zandberg, who was in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square to celebrate the win, said, "What an amazing atmosphere … Netta, you've made all of us extremely happy and proud. We love you and thank you!"
Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev also called Netta "kapparah" in her message of congratulations.
"You did great! You've brought great honor to Israel," she said. "Netta brought the State of Israel a great gift. Next year, the Eurovision will be held in Israel and we'll do everything we can to put on the best production possible and show Israel at its best."
The home country of each year's Eurovision winner hosts the next year's competition, meaning the 2019 contest will take place in Jerusalem.
