music show
Eurovision Song Contest: Can Israel take part?
The trophy of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The event will take place again this year. photo
© Andy Von Pip/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Because of Russia’s war against Ukraine, no Russian act is allowed at the ESC. A similar regulation is required for Israel. But the organizers remain true to their previous line.
The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) have countered calls To exclude Israel from the music event because of the Gaza war. “The EBU is committed to ensuring that the Eurovision Song Contest remains a non-political event that unites audiences worldwide through music,” said the organizers in response to a dpa request.
“It’s a competition for broadcasters – not for governments.” The EBU has been saying something like this for weeks. The ESC final will take place on May 11th in Malmö.
Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip criticized
The committees checked the list of participants and confirmed that Israel met all the requirements for participation. Israel’s public broadcaster has been taking part in the competition for 50 years.
In various countries and especially on social networks, voices have been raised calling for Israel to be excluded from this year’s ESC. This is about Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip after the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas. Israel is criticized primarily because of the casualties among the civilian population.
In Finland, for example, hundreds of musicians and other music industry representatives recently called on radio station Yle to put pressure on the EBU. There have also been calls in several countries to boycott the ESC if Israel is allowed to take part.
Russia excluded
The 68th ESC is taking place in Sweden this year because singer Loreen won last year’s competition in Liverpool with the song “Tattoo” for the Scandinavian country. At the beginning of December, the EBU published a list of 37 participating broadcasters – including KAN from Israel.
After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the EBU announced in 2022 that no Russian act would be allowed to take part in the ESC.