![Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place on May 11th, is being protested in Malmo, Sweden, where the event is being hosted on May 9, 2024. [Atila Altuntaş - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AA-20240509-34514778-34514773-ISRAELS_PARTICIPATION_IN_THE_EUROVISION_SONG_CONTEST_PROTESTED_IN_MALMO-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Dozens of former Eurovision contestants have signed an open letter urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ban Israel and its public broadcaster from this year’s contest, accusing it of whitewashing alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The letter blasted last year’s Eurovision in Sweden as “the most politicised, chaotic and unpleasant in the competition’s history,” and accused Israeli public broadcaster 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.”
Among the 72 signatories are the UK’s Mae Muller, Ireland’s Charlie McGettigan, and Portugal’s Fernando Tordo.
“By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,” the letter said.
“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,” it added.
Controversy over Israel’s participation escalated in 2023, when a KAN journalist was filmed joking with Israeli soldiers beside a tank shell.
Irish contestant Bambie Thug also accused KAN of “inciting violence against me, twice, three times,” with the controversy causing the singer to withdraw from dress rehearsals.
The EBU said it “appreciated there are concerns about the current conflict in the Middle East” and that it remains “in constant contact with those participating this year.”
Broadcasters from Spain, Iceland, and Slovenia have also questioned Israel’s inclusion.
“We believe in the unifying power of music, which is why we refuse to allow music to be used as a tool to whitewash crimes against humanity,” the letter concluded.
“Last year, we were appalled that the EBU allowed Israel to participate while it continued its genocide in Gaza broadcast live for the world to see. The result was disastrous.”
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