Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has requested talks with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)—organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest—over the participation of Israel in the contest. ‘Requesting talks’ is a polite way of saying ‘applied pressure for a ban.’
The atmosphere inside the venue is already likely to turn nasty for the Israeli entrant, as earlier restrictions on Palestinian flags in the audience have been lifted. Now, a small campaign group comprising former contestants and other associated performers from across Europe has called for Israeli broadcaster Kan to be banned from next week’s event. Leaving few antisemitic cliches unused, these 72 musicians-turned-activists accuse the EBU 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.
Eurovision has come a long way since its origins in finding a way to test the viability of satellite link-ups across Western Europe.
Slightly more restrained was RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst, who declared he was
appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages.
Last year’s competition involved on- and off-stage hostility and histrionics directed at performers from the Jewish state, who nevertheless received a decent share of the public vote. This year, Israel will be represented by Yuval Raphael, a 24-year-old survivor of Hamas’ October 7th pogrom at the Nova music festival.
Israel first appeared at Eurovision in 1973, the first participant not located in Europe—and socially distinct from its often hostile neighbours. In 2024, the competition was won by Swiss entry ‘The Code,’ a tune about its navel-gazing singer Nemo coming to terms with ‘their’ non-binary gender identity. Victory obliged Basel to host this year’s event.
