Why it matters:
The Eurovision Song Contest, with a history of seventy years, is one of the most important and widely viewed music events in the world, in which participants represent European countries each year.
This year, considering the continuation of genocide by Israel and the emergence of global protests against the crimes of the Israeli regime, the television broadcasters of this competition in some European countries announced that Israel’s participation conflicts with their stated humanitarian values. Citing these concerns, they declared that they would not take part in the contest if Israel remained in the lineup.
The big picture:
The most significant decision came from Spain: its national broadcaster, RTVE, announced that it will withdraw from Eurovision after 65 consecutive years of participation.These decisions arose during two years of genocide by Israel and the rise of global protests against the Israeli regime’s atrocities.Iceland and Belgium are also expected to announce their positions soon, as both countries have voiced opposition to Israel’s participation.
What they’re saying:
José Pablo López, the head of Spain's RTVE, wrote on X Platform that “What happened at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Assembly confirms that Eurovision is not a song contest, but a festival dominated by geopolitical interests and deeply fractured.”
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS argued that "Our participation under the current circumstances is incompatible with the public values that are essential to us."
Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, explained that its decision was made ‘in light of the horrific loss of life in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis: "RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory."
Meanwhile Radio-Television of Slovenia (RTVSLO) stated that We cannot stand on the same stage alongside the representative of Israel that has committed genocide.
Go deeper:
Boycott of Israeli Products at Heart of Europe
S.Archin - seyed mohammad kazemi
