https://arab.news/ya5bs
- 72 artists accused the EBU of double standards, 鈥榥ormalizing and whitewashing鈥� alleged Israeli war crimes
- Open letter criticizes organizers for last year鈥檚 鈥榙isastrous鈥� contest
LONDON: A group of 72 former Eurovision contestants has called on the European Broadcasting Union to ban Israel and its national broadcaster, KAN, from this year鈥檚 song contest, citing the country鈥檚 war in Gaza.
In an open letter published Tuesday, the artists accused the EBU of 鈥渘ormalizing and whitewashing鈥� alleged Israeli war crimes by allowing the country鈥檚 participation.
鈥淏y continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalizing and whitewashing its crimes,鈥� the letter said, adding that the organization鈥檚 handling of last year鈥檚 contest in Sweden was 鈥渄isastrous,鈥� resulting in 鈥渢he most politicized, chaotic and unpleasant edition in the competition鈥檚 history.
鈥淟ast year, we were appalled that the EBU allowed Israel to participate while it continued its genocide in Gaza broadcast live for the world to see,鈥� it said.
鈥淩ather than acknowledging the widespread criticism and reflecting on its own failures, the EBU responded by doubling down 鈥� granting total impunity to the Israeli delegation while repressing other artists and delegations.鈥�
Among those signing the letter are the UK鈥檚 2023 entrant Mae Muller, Ireland鈥檚 1994 Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan, Finnish singer Kaija Karkinen and Portuguese performer Fernando Tordo.
Controversy surrounding Israel鈥檚 participation has grown since last year, when the EBU resisted mounting pressure to ban the country despite its military campaign in Gaza.
Critics accused the EBU of double standards, citing Russia鈥檚 exclusion from the contest in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
鈥淪ilence is not an option,鈥� the letter said. 鈥淭he EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We don鈥檛 accept this double standard regarding Israel.鈥�
The appeal comes amid increasing scrutiny over Israel鈥檚 inclusion in this year鈥檚 contest, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland, from May 13-17.
Last week, the EBU lifted a ban on Palestinian flags in the audience, reversing a longstanding policy that prohibited symbols from non-competing countries or territories.
Officials in several countries 鈥� including Spain, Iceland and Slovenia 鈥� have also voiced objections. Slovenia publicly protested Israel鈥檚 inclusion earlier this month.
Despite growing criticism, the EBU has said that Israel鈥檚 entry complies with competition rules and will proceed as planned. Large-scale protests are expected during the event.
This year, Israel will be represented by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack, performing a song titled 鈥淣ew Day Will Rise.鈥�