Eurovision Bosses Respond After Irish Broadcaster Raises Concerns About Israel's Involvement
Eurovision bosses have said they will hold discussions with participating national broadcasters about Israel’s future with the contest – but only when this year’s event is over.
In the run-up to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Israel’s participation has once again become a contentious issue amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Last week, the director general of Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to hold discussions with its members about whether Israel should remain part of Eurovision.
Prior to that, national broadcasters for Slovenia, Spain and Iceland had already raised questions about whether Israel should remain part of Eurovision.
These concerns from Ireland’s broadcaster were raised with the EBU last week, with a spokesperson for RTÉ telling the Irish Times: “There is a commitment from the EBU to have a wider discussion amongst members in due course.”
An EBU rep also said that the organisation “will continue to listen to all members” and that a “broader discussion” to “reflect” on “all aspects of this year’s event” will take place with “all participating broadcasters” – but only when this year’s contest is over.
The Eurovision semi-finals will air on Tuesday and Thursday before the live final takes place in Basel on Saturday night.
Earlier this month, an open letter was co-signed by more than 70 artists and performers associated with Eurovision – including multiple winners – calling for Israel’s expulsion.
The EBU responded: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.
″[We are not] immune to global events but, together, with our members, it is our role to ensure the Contest remains – at its heart – a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music.”
The statement continued: “We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.”
Since then, reigning winner Nemo has also called on the EBU to remove Israel.
They exclusively told HuffPost UK last week: “I support the call for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest.
“Israel’s actions are fundamentally at odds with the values that Eurovision claims to uphold — peace, unity, and respect for human rights.”