ANNPoa Kirel from Israel at Eurovision Song Contest 2023
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 16:48
In more and more countries, artists are calling for a boycott of Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest. Asked a lot yesterday a thousand Swedish artists in an open letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of the music festival, calling for the exclusion of Israel due to the war in Gaza.
Similar letters previously appeared from artists in Finland, Norway and Iceland calling on their broadcasters to withdraw. The Icelandic public broadcaster is now considering this. The EBU said in a response that Israel may participate.
‘Double standard’
The Eurovision Song Contest is held in May in the Swedish city of Malmö. “By allowing Israel to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, the organization is demonstrating a double standard that undermines its credibility,” write the Swedish artists, including Robyn, First Aid Kit, Fever Ray, and former Eurovision participant Eric Saade. The Israeli ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, calls the call from the Swedish artists “a gift to Hamas terrorists”.
In 2022, the EBU expelled Russia from the competition “in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine”. The organization did this after the broadcasters of Finland and Estonia threatened to stay away if Russia participated, and the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark called on the EBU to ban Russia.
More Northern European countries
earlier signed 1,400 Finnish artists have filed a petition stating that “a country that commits war crimes should not be given a stage to polish its image with music.” In Norway, a demonstrator walked onto the stage during the preliminary round with a Palestinian flag.
The Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has announced that it will decide in consultation with the eventual winner of the preliminary round whether the broadcaster will withdraw. In 2019, the broadcaster was fined after Icelandic artists showed a Palestinian flag on stage during the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.
AVROTROS, the broadcaster responsible for the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands and also speaking on behalf of participant Joost Klein, says that it “works a lot on this subject” and that it is “in contact with our colleagues from the other participating broadcasters”. “We are not about who can or cannot participate. We are a participant. All participating countries are represented at the EBU by a reference group that advises the EBU (un)solicited. Ultimately, a position will be taken within these bodies or not. .”
Swedish broadcaster SVT says it cannot decide on Israel’s participation. “All our actions take on political significance in this highly conflicted environment. The EBU decides who takes part in the competition, and as the host country we comply with what the EBU says.”
The EBU said in a response that it is not excluding Israel from the competition, because “it is a competition for broadcasters – not governments – and the Israeli broadcaster has been participating for fifty years.” Furthermore, it is “an apolitical event that connects audiences around the world.”
The fact that the EBU decided to ban Russia in 2022 is partly because Ukraine also participated, the EBU writes. “As mentioned, the Eurovision Song Contest is a competition for broadcasters. After repeated violations of the membership obligations and values of public media, Russia was suspended.” According to the EBU, the Israeli broadcaster does adhere to the rules.
Scandinavia correspondent Rolien Créton:
“It is not the first time that Sweden has faced a challenging Eurovision Song Contest. Sweden also hosted it in 2016, two years after the Russian invasion of Crimea. Then Sweden had to make an effort to ensure that Russia was not booed during the performance.
It is not surprising that artists from Scandinavian countries are asking for a boycott. This year it is a Swedish and therefore Scandinavian party. Moreover, the Eurovision Song Contest is very big and important in all Scandinavian countries.
Sweden is now working hard to ensure proper security for the Eurovision Song Contest. The protest is currently coming from the artists, but if it increases, the pressure on the organization may also increase.”
A petition calling for the boycott of Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest has now grown 25,000 times signed. Signatories are also called upon to file a complaint with the EBU.
“The EBU is a fairly reactive organization,” says Jorn Kompeer, who follows the Eurovision Song Contest for NOS. “If the petition becomes really large or if other countries turn against Israel’s participation, the EBU may reverse this decision and Israel will still be excluded.”
The draw will take place tonight to determine which countries will compete against each other in the two semi-finals. Israel will choose its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest next week. The number will be announced in March, writes The Times of Israel.
2024-01-30 15:48:53
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