Artists and musicians in Sweden, Iceland and Finland had petitioned the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel over its atrocities in Gaza

Artists and musicians in Sweden, Iceland and Finland had petitioned the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel over its atrocities in Gaza

Israel can compete in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, organisers confirmed on Thursday, again rejecting calls for it to be excluded over the Gaza war like Russia was after invading Ukraine.

On Wednesday, a group of 400 celebrities including British actress Helen Mirren, British singer Boy George and former Kiss frontman Gene Simmons published an open letter supporting Eurovision’s decision to maintain Israel’s participation.

The letter was issued in response to petitions calling for Israel to be kicked out of the world’s biggest live music event, which is being held in Malmo, Sweden, in May.

Approached by AFP, the European Broadcasting Union said it had conducted a review and decided late last year that Israel could participate in the kitsch annual pop extravaganza.

“The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments,” EBU director general Noel Curran said, reiterating a statement made in January.

read more: https://www.newarab.com/news/eurovision-confirms-israel-can-compete

  • @randon31415
    18•9 months ago

    Forget politics… isn’t EURO vision a EURO-pean contest? I thought Israel was in the middle east. Of course, I’ve never watched it, so maybe India and Australia compete as well.

        • Ben Hur Horse Race
          6•9 months ago

          Austrialia has earned their right to participate. For some insane reason, an absolutely massive amount of people (2.5 million+) get up at 4am to watch the broadcast from 5am.

          • Herbal Gamer
            5•9 months ago

            I don’t see how that in any way qualifies them. If a bunch of americans start watching it live, are we gonna get them out there too?

            • @Viking_Hippie
              5•9 months ago

              Idunno, probably 🤷

              Get butts in seats, you get to compete…s

            • Ben Hur Horse Race
              1•9 months ago

              Does it harm you in some way that AUS gets to participate after two decades of millions of people getting up at 4:30am to watch the contest or do you just like huffing and puffing with your thumbs on the internet

              • Herbal Gamer
                1•9 months ago

                More of the latter in all honesty, since I haven’t watched it in years. I still stand by my point (which I have had as long as I can remember) of it being a weird addition, same as Israel.

                • Ben Hur Horse Race
                  1•9 months ago

                  fair enough!

                  for what its worth I’d prefer Isreal wasn’t included, and the fact that they’re included this year after russia was excluded for Ukraine, I feel, is shameful.

                  Aus really fought for their spot with the manic fandom, they’re allright by me.

                  Why did you stop watching? Finland’s entry for this year is a guy called Windows95 Man and the stage performance includes more oddly placed denim than you’d reasonably guess: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf1NS1vEhSg

    • ???
      19•9 months ago

      When they say Europe they just mean countries with white western values

      Correction: technically it’s in the European Broadcasting Union zone. Notice, however, that most of those who compete are from white European countries with matching white Europian culture. There’s a reason you don’t see Morocco competing except for that one time in the 80s.

      Israel tries to be a “European” country and a “Middle Eastern” one all the same. Too bad that what it actually is is a racist apartheid ethnostate.

    • @[email protected]
      12•9 months ago

      It’s because they are part of the European Broadcasting Union, which is mainly European countiees but also includes Egypt and Israel.

      Associate members are also allowed to join Eurovision on a case by case basis which is where you get Australia going to Eurovision.

    • @Viking_Hippie
      6•9 months ago

      isn’t EURO vision a EURO-pean contest

      Close. It’s a Euro-peen contest. At least some of the after parties probably are 🤷

    • mihies
      5•9 months ago

      Every “euro” sport competition join the chat.