- Broadcasters face boycott pressure
- Israel’s participation criticized
- EBU defends competition’s apolitical stance
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) contends that Russia’s 2022 suspension from the Eurovision Song Contest was “fundamentally different” from its stance that the competition is apolitical.
Due to the conflict in Gaza, European broadcasters face increased pressure to boycott Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Since the conflict began, Israel’s military operations have killed over 27,000 people and injured over 66,000, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Israel’s retaliation on October 7 last year followed an attack and hostage-taking by Hamas militants, resulting in over a thousand Israeli deaths.
Following Russia’s exclusion from the 2022 competition due to its invasion of Ukraine—a contest Ukraine won—political issues overshadow Eurovision again.
Iceland, considering its participation options for this year, states it will not decide on participation until after selecting its representative, a process starting tonight.
“The decision on Iceland’s participation in Eurovision will be made after the competition, in consultation with the winner,” says the Icelandic Broadcasting Authority (RUV) on its website, amidst criticisms of Israel’s participation despite the Gaza conflict.
The televised selection process in Iceland involves ten artists and songs, concluding on March 2. One contestant, Bashar Murad, is of Palestinian descent.
In Sweden, over a thousand musicians, including Robyn of “Dancing On My Own” fame, criticize the EBU and SVT, the host broadcaster, for “double standards” in an open letter, referencing Russia’s past exclusion from Eurovision.
“Allowing Israel to participate not only undermines the competition’s spirit but also the entire public service mission,” the letter concludes, arguing it suggests governments committing war crimes face no consequences. “Hence, we demand the EBU disqualify Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.”
Moreover, over 1,500 Finnish artists have called on their public broadcaster, Yle, to support the EBU’s disqualification of Israel, accusing it of committing war crimes.
Global Eurovision Controversy Escalates
Finnish musicians argue that a country “under military occupation” should not be allowed “a public stage to improve its image through music.”
RTE, the Irish broadcaster, has received a petition with over 500 signatures expressing similar concerns.
In Norway, demonstrators protested semi-naked in the snow outside the public broadcaster NRK’s office last month, demanding Israel’s Eurovision exclusion.
Ione Belarra, leader of Spain’s left-wing Podemos party, has called for a Congressional debate on excluding Israel from the competition as a measure to “stop the genocide against the Palestinian people.”
If approved, the non-legal proposal would compel the Spanish government to “explicitly oppose Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.”
The EBU maintains that Eurovision is not a political event and that Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, “meets all competition conditions and can participate next year.”
Additionally, the EBU notes that the suspension of Russian broadcasters was due to “continued breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service media values,” a situation “fundamentally different” from its dealings with KAN.
Olly Alexander of the musical group Years & Years, known for his stance against Israel, will represent the United Kingdom in this year’s contest. He has supported an open letter from Voices4London, an LGBTQ+ activist group, calling for an end to the violence in Gaza and for Israel to provide humanitarian aid.
Israel’s Noa Kirel, a former Israel Defence Forces combatant, placed fourth in the 2023 Eurovision in Liverpool.
Malmo, Sweden, will host this year’s Eurovision following Loreen’s second victory, with the final on May 11.
