More than 70 artists and musicians who have previously represented their countries at Eurovision have signed an open letter calling for the exclusion of Israel and its national broadcaster, KAN, from this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
Israel's participation in Eurovision has been a topic of debate since last year, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Now, a letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has been signed by 72 musicians and performers associated with the festival.
In this letter, the organizers are called upon to exclude Israel and its public broadcaster due to, as the document states, "the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the long-standing regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people."
The letter's signatories include former Eurovision winners Charlie McGettigan, Salvador Sobral and Fernando Tordo, as well as British singer Mae Muller, French singer La Zarra, former Turkish representative Hadise Açıkgöz and last year's contestants Ásdís María and GÅTE, who took part in what the letter describes as "the most politicized, chaotic and unpleasant edition in Eurovision history".
Eurovision 2024 has been marred by controversy over Israel's inclusion in the contest, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Critics have accused the EBU of hypocrisy, citing Russia's exclusion from the 2022 contest after its invasion of Ukraine, while Israel was allowed to compete despite the situation.
Last year, Israel was in danger of withdrawing from the competition after its singer was asked to change the lyrics of the song “October Rain” due to alleged references to the October 7 attacks. ICAN was also heavily criticized for its treatment of other contestants, particularly Ireland’s Bambie Thug, who accused the Israeli network of “inciting violence” against her.
This year's letter states: "We call on all members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to demand the exclusion of KAN, the Israeli public broadcaster, from the Eurovision Song Contest. KAN is complicit in Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and its decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation of the Palestinian people."
By continuously giving a platform to the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalizing and whitewashing its crimes. The EBU has shown that it is capable of taking action, as it did in 2022 when it expelled Russia from the competition. We do not accept this double standard towards Israel. As singers, songwriters, musicians and privileged participants of Eurovision, we call on the EBU and all member broadcasters to act immediately and protect the integrity of the festival. Israel must be expelled from Eurovision.”
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