Tel Aviv - The Jewish-Arab duo picked to represent Israel at May's Eurovision Song Contest said on Tuesday they wanted to see a peaceful settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.

"We want our cooperation to show the way forward," the pair said at a press conference in Tel Aviv, ahead of the contest in Moscow. "This is our task."

One singer, Noa, is Jewish while the other, Mira Awad, is a Christian Arab, and the duo will sing their self-penned song There Must Be Another Way.

Both singers say they have suffered prejudice and criticism for pairing up with each other eight years ago. Awad said that her Arab compatriots had accused her of being a fig leaf for covering up Israel's role as an occupying power.

"I can understand why people criticize me for representing this country (Israel) at such a terrible time," Awad said, referring to the Israeli offensive in Gaza which left around
1,300 Palestinians dead.

"But I will not hide away, I will take my destiny into my own hands."

Awad grew up in northern Israel, and sees herself as an Israeli Palestinian. (dpa)