US EditionFormer Eurovision contestants call for Israel's exclusion over Gaza conflict and double standards
- On May 7, more than 70 individuals who previously took part in Eurovision publicly called on the European Broadcasting Union to prevent Israel and its broadcaster Kan from participating in the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland.
- The letter accuses Kan of complicity in Israel's alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, citing over 50,000 Palestinian deaths and a decades-long regime of occupation and apartheid, while Israel denies these claims.
- The call follows heightened tensions after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, including many civilians, and mass hostage-taking, which led to controversial Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
- The letter voices opposition to perceived double standards, comparing Israel’s participation to Russia's 2022 Eurovision ban, and states, "We don't accept this double standard regarding Israel."
- The dispute suggests continued politicization of Eurovision, with the EBU maintaining Israel's participation despite widespread criticism, and the 2024 contest described as the most chaotic and politicized in its history.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Eurovision blow as former contestants sign petition to ban Israel from competition
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 Palestinia…
Eurovision boss rejects letter from 72 former contestants calling for Israel ban
Dozens of former Eurovision contestants have signed an open letter to ban Israel from the competition (Picture: Reuters) Former Eurovision contestants have called on the competition to ban Israel and its national broadcaster Kan from this year’s contest. Among the 72 names who have signed the open letter are the UK’s 2023 entry Mae Muller, Ireland’s 1994 champion, Charlie McGettigan, and 2017 Portuguese winner, Salvador Sobral. They have demande…
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