In short:
The Eurovision Song Contest faces the prospect of mass withdrawals after organisers opt not to vote on Israel’s future participation, allowing it to take part in next year’s event.
Widespread opposition to the war in Gaza had led to mounting calls for Israel to be excluded from the annual contest.
What’s next?
Public broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia say they will not participate in next year’s event, and more are expected to follow.
Israel is not part of Europe anyway so why should they compete?
Really disappointed with the SBS that Australia is not among those boycotting. We’re repeating the Australian Rugby Union team’s tours of South Africa in the '70s and '80s. Except worse, because Israel has been doing apartheid for decades…it’s just that now they’ve escalated to genocide, worse than South Africa ever did.
Australia has historically had a strong affinity with Israel, with figures from across the political spectrum including Julia Gillard being staunch supporters. Perhaps it’s a subconscious sense of both countries being militarised outposts of Judaeochristian civilisation under siege.
It’d be funny if it was only Israel competing.
Can’t happen, some other states (like Italy and Germany) said they would not participate if Israel was excluded.
And lose because they can’t vote for themselves.
They’d probably sing about how righteous and pure their military is, and how Palestinians never actually existed.
That’s basically what they sent before the EBU made them change the song.
