Eurovision Song Contest: How are organisers reacting to criticisms of Israel?

It’s Eurovision season but the event is mired in controversy over Israel. What‘s going on?

The 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest takes place next week in Basle, Switzerland, beginning on Tuesday, with the first semi-final, before the Saturday grand finale. With a TV audience in the hundreds of millions, the event is one of the biggest in showbiz. Ireland‘s entrant is Norwegian singer Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen, stage name Emmy, who will appear in the second semi-final on Thursday. Not for the first time, war in Gaza has prompted criticism of Israel‘s participation.

What’s the background?

Yuval Raphael is due to sing a ballad, New Day Will Rise, for Israel. She is also scheduled to appear in the second semi-final. The 24-year-old survived the Hamas attack on Israel of October 23rd, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. She was at the Nova music festival near Gaza, where 360 young people were killed; she hid for hours under dead bodies in a bomb shelter and received a shrapnel wound. Israel’s war on Gaza soon followed; more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel plans a big escalation of its military campaign in the Palestinian territory.

What are critics saying?

A group called Artists for Palestine wants the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organiser of the Eurovision, to expel Israeli public broadcaster Kan because of the war. “By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,” said a letter signed by 70 former contestants.

“The EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We don’t accept this double standard regarding Israel.” Signatories include Charlie McGettigan, winner for Ireland of the 1994 contest with Paul Harrington. (They sang Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids).

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Is there more?

RTÉ journalists voted to ask the national broadcaster to oppose Israel’s participation, citing moves against Israel by broadcasters in Iceland, Slovenia and Spain. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst later called for EBU discussions: “I am appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages.”

What did Eurovision chiefs say?

They pushed back, claiming no national broadcaster “publicly opposed” Israeli participation. Eurovision director Martin Green said the EBU was maintaining an “inclusive stance” towards Israel. “The broadcasters mentioned in the [NUJ] letter, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, requested a discussion and RÚV in Iceland has informed us of their foreign minister’s comments on Kan’s participation.”

Is that the end of it?

Unlikely. Israel’s 2024 entrant Eden Golan was booed at the dress rehearsal in Malmo, Sweden, and confined to her hotel room when not performing because of threats. She finished fifth.