Seventy-two former Eurovision participants have signed an open letter urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel and its national broadcaster KAN from this year’s competition.
The letter is directed to the EBU and attributes last year’s controversy in Sweden to creating “the most politicised, chaotic and unpleasant in the competition’s history.”
It also accuses KAN of being “complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.”
Israel has denied that it is committing genocide throughout their war against Hamas.
Eurovision 2024 faced intense backlash over Israel’s inclusion, as its participation unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing military action in Gaza
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In 2023, Rotem Achihun, a journalist for KAN, was captured on video joking with Israeli soldiers while seemingly writing a “message for Gaza” on a tank shell, drawing widespread backlash.
The broadcaster also faced intense scrutiny over its delegation’s reported behaviour towards other contestants.
Last year’s Irish entrant Bambie Thug claimed KAN had “incited violence against me, twice, three times,” and later pulled out of dress rehearsals, prompting the EBU to intervene and hold discussions with KAN regarding its coverage.
The open letter was signed by figures including 2023 UK representative Mae Muller, 1994 Irish winner Charlie McGettigan, and Portuguese artist Fernando Tordo.
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EUrovision 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland
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It states: “By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes.
“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.
“We stand in solidarity with this year’s contestants and condemn the EBU’s repeated refusal to take responsibility.”
Eurovision 2024 faced intense backlash over Israel’s inclusion, as its participation unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing military action in Gaza.
Last year’s Irish entrant Bambie Thug claimed KAN had “incited violence against me, twice, three times"
GETTY
Critics accused the EBU of double standards, pointing out that Russia was banned from the contest in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, while Israel remained in the lineup.
“It can’t be one rule for Russia and a completely different rule for Israel. You bomb, you’re out,” said Thea Garrett, Malta’s 2010 Eurovision representative and a signatory of the open letter.
Despite initial resistance, Israel ultimately took part in last year’s contest with Eden Golan as its representative.
The country had threatened to withdraw after Golan was asked to alter her song, “October Rain,” due to its apparent references to the October 7 attacks.
This year, Israel is set to compete again, represented by Yuval Raphael- a survivor of the October 7 attacks
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
The song title was subsequently changed to “Hurricane” and some of the lyrics were altered.
This year, Israel is set to compete again, represented by Yuval Raphael- a survivor of the October 7 attacks- who will perform the song “New Day Will Rise” in Basel, Switzerland.
Speaking to The Independent, the director of Eurovision, Martin Green CBE, said: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.”
He continued by saying that as part of the EBU’s “mission to secure a sustainable future for public service media”, they would support KAN against threats of being privatised or shut down by the Israeli government.
“We are not immune to global events but, together, it is our role to ensure the Contest remains – at its heart – a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music,” he added.
“The EBU remains aligned with other international organisations that have similarly maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.”
Last year, over 56,000 people signed a petition for Israel to be banned from the competition.
