Over 70 previous Eurovision performers advocate for Israel's exclusion from the competition.
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Stirring up a melody of dissent, over 70 former Eurovision Song Contest participants — including household names like Salvador Sobral, Mae Muller, Bianca Nicholas, Charlie McGettigan, and La Zarra — have penned a passionate appeal to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to boot out Israeli broadcaster KAN.
The vocal contingent, which includes Portugal's António Calvário, Fernando Tordo, Lena d'Agua, Rita Reis of the former band Nonstop, and more, contend that KAN is complicit in Israel's alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the ongoing decades-long regime of "apartheid" and military occupation against the Palestinian people.
"We, the former Eurovision participants, implore all EBU members to demand the exclusion of KAN, the Israeli public broadcaster, from the Eurovision Song Contest. KAN is complicit in Israel's alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and a decades-long system of apartheid and military occupation against the Palestinian people," the impassioned letter, co-published by Artists For Palestine and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, declares. You can read the full letter here.
Former Eurovision winners such as Salvador Sobral (2017) and Charlie McGettigan (1994), alongside an array of former representatives who have served as composers, musicians, dancers, and choir members, lend their voices to the movement.
"We believe in the power of music to unite, and that's precisely why we reject its use as a means to cover up transgressions against humanity," the statement reads, underscoring their position that Israel's presence at the 2024 contest has made it "the most politicized, contentious, and confrontational" in the competition's history.
"Last year, we were appalled as the EBU allowed Israel to participate while the alleged genocide in Gaza raged on, unabated in the spotlight. The outcome was disastrous," the statement continues.
Addressing their grievances against the EBU, the signatories assert that the Union has failed to acknowledge these concerns or show accountability for its actions, choosing instead to grant "absolute immunity" to the Israeli delegation while suppressing other artists and delegations who voice opposition.
As the global landscape grapples with a proliferation of authoritarian and far-right movements, the signees emphasize that the urgency to speak out is paramount. By setting a precedent in expelling Russia from the competition in 2022 when it invaded Ukraine, the EBU has demonstrated its capacity for decisive action when it deems it necessary.
"We refuse to accept this two-tier standard when it comes to Israel. We stand in solidarity with this year's contestants and condemn the EBU's persistent refusal to assume its responsibility," they write.
The letter arrives a week before the grand kickoff of Eurovision 2025, set to take place in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15, and 17. Signatories hail from various countries such as Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Turkey, and Malta.
Israeli representative for Eurovision 2025 is expected to be Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023.
Last April, the Spanish broadcaster (RTVE) sent a letter to the EBU president, Noel Curran, requesting "the opening of a debate" on Israel's participation in the competition. This appeal was later echoed by the Slovenian and Icelandic television stations.
Israel has been absent from the contest since 1973, after claiming four wins: in 1978 with the song 'A-Ba-Ni-Bi', performed by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta; the following year when they hosted the Festival in Jerusalem with 'Hallelujah', by Gali Atari and Milk & Honey; and most recently, with Dana International's Hebrew song 'Diva' in 1998. Israel's most recent victory at the event was in Lisbon in 2018 with 'Toy', a song sung in English by Netta Barzilai.
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- The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is urged to reconsider the participation of Israeli broadcaster KAN in the Eurovision Song Contest due to allegations of complicity in Israel's actions against Palestinians, which include genocide, apartheid, and military occupation.
- The appeal, signed by over 70 former Eurovision participants including Salvador Sobral and Mae Muller, asserts that the EBU has failed to address these concerns, choosing instead to grant "absolute immunity" to the Israeli delegation.
- The signatories argue that the EBU's decision to allow Israel's participation during alleged genocide in Gaza in the previous year was disastrous and makes the 2024 contest the most politicized, contentious, and confrontational in the competition's history.
- In light of a proliferation of authoritarian and far-right movements worldwide, the signees emphasize the urgency to speak out, citing the EBU's decision to expel Russia from the competition in 2022 for invading Ukraine as evidence of its capacity for decisive action.
- The signatories, who hail from various countries, including Finland, France, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Turkey, and Malta, assert that they refuse to accept a two-tier standard when it comes to Israel and stand in solidarity with this year's contestants.
