Israeli Noa Kirel (second from left) came third in the Eurovision Song Contest last year. — © Sander Koning
Despite heavy protests, the organization behind the Eurovision Song Contest does not intend to ban Israel from the competition. According to them, the conflict in the Gaza Strip plays no role.
Friday January 19, 2024 at 5:34 PM
Due to the war in Gaza, there is criticism from various quarters about Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. 1,300 Finnish musicians signed a petition to ban the country, and an Icelandic fan club is calling for people not to participate if Israel were to participate. In Norway, the pre-selection was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protests that also called for a boycott. But the European Broadcast Union (EBU), the organization behind the Eurovision Song Contest, stands firm.
According to the EBU, Israel meets all the conditions to participate. “We join other international organizations in allowing Israeli competitors to participate in major competitions. The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition for broadcasters, not governments. The EBU ensures that the Eurovision Song Contest remains a non-political event that aims to unite the public through music.” The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Sweden in May. Israel has won the competition four times, most recently in 2018.(dvg)