Ireland asks Eurovision host EBU for discussion over Israel’s involvement

Irish nationalist broadcaster RTÉ has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for discussions complete Israel’s inclusion successful nan Eurovision Song Contest. 

The contest, which is hosted by nan EBU, will statesman connected 13 May successful Switzerland pinch nan last connected 17 May.

Despite calls for a boycott, Israel will compete this twelvemonth pinch vocalist Yuval Raphael, a subsister of nan 7 October 2023 attack. She was astatine nan Nova euphony show wherever 360 group were killed.

RTÉ head wide Kevin Bakhurst said he was “appalled by nan ongoing events successful nan Middle East and by nan horrific effect connected civilians successful Gaza, and nan destiny of Israeli hostages”, and added that he requested a chat “notwithstanding nan truth that nan criterion for participating” is rank of EBU. 

Bakhurst said he was alert of RTÉ’s work to “maintain objectivity successful covering nan warfare successful Gaza”, continuing: “We are besides very mindful of nan terrible governmental unit connected Israel’s nationalist work broadcaster, KAN, from nan Israeli government.”

The head of Eurovision, Martin Green, responded successful a connection saying that nary broadcaster has “publicly opposed” Israel’s participation, though broadcasters from Spain and Slovenia had besides requested a discussion.

Green added: “The EBU is not immune to world events but, together, pinch our members, it is our domiciled to guarantee nan title remains – astatine its bosom – a cosmopolitan arena that promotes connections, diverseness and inclusion done music. We each aspire to support nan Eurovision Song Contest affirmative and inclusive and aspire to show nan world arsenic it could be, alternatively than really it needfully is.”

Alongside RTÉ’s request, much than 70 erstwhile Eurovision contestants person signed an unfastened missive calling for Israel and its nationalist broadcaster KAN to beryllium banned from this year’s competition.

The missive reads: missive reads: “[We] impulse each members of nan European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to request nan removal of KAN, nan Israeli nationalist broadcaster, from nan Eurovision Song Contest. KAN is complicit successful Israel’s genocide against nan Palestinians successful Gaza and nan decades-long authorities of apartheid and subject business against nan full Palestinian people.” 

“By continuing to level nan practice of nan Israeli state, nan EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,” nan missive continues. “The EBU has already demonstrated that it is tin of taking measures, arsenic successful 2022, erstwhile it expelled Russia from nan competition. We don’t judge this double modular regarding Israel.” 

“As singers, songwriters, musicians and others who person had nan privilege of participating successful Eurovision, we impulse nan EBU and each its personnel broadcasters to enactment now and forestall further discredit and disruption to nan festival: Israel must beryllium excluded from Eurovision.” 

You tin publication nan missive successful afloat on Artists For Palestine UK’s website here. 

There were respective campaigns to artifact Israel from taking portion successful nan Eurovision opus title past year, but nan EBU ruled Israel was allowed to compete – provided nan country’s contestant amended her opus 'October Rain' due to its perceived lyrical references to nan 7 October attacks.

KAN received dense disapproval past twelvemonth for its delegation’s alleged curen of contestants – specifically Irish contestant Bambie Thug, who accused nan web of “inciting violence” against her.

The expansive last of this year's Eurovision Song Contest will return spot successful Basel, Switzerland, connected Saturday 17 May. The semi-finals return spot connected Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May.