Eurovision from A to Z is a podcast and blog coordinated by a Swedish man, a Spanish man, and a Dutch woman, united by our passion for Eurovision and its cultural diversity. We are ‘United by Music’, but this union cannot be done while ignoring the serious violations of Human Rights and international law occurring in Gaza and the West Bank following the terrible terrorist attacks of October 7th, which we unequivocally condemn.
This statement is not against the Israeli people but against a state which is systematically practicing genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people and is using Eurovision for its propaganda.
We support the withdrawal of RTVE and AVROTROS
We support the bold decision taken by Spanish and Dutch broadcasters to withdraw if Israel ultimately participates, especially since they are two of the largest contributors to the EBU. Likewise, we encourage other broadcasters to join this boycott, as other televisions networks have done.
We criticise the indifference of SVT and EBU and their double standards
The stance of SVT, other broadcasters and the EBU as ‘apolitical’ is incomprehensible considering the political nature of the festival since its founding. It is scandalous to recall the speed with which they took sides to expel Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, a decision we support. Maintaining a ‘neutral’ position in the face of a humanitarian crisis of greater proportions is inconsistent and even complicit in an ongoing genocide.
We reject the use of Eurovision as a tool for propaganda and ‘pinkwashing’
The state of Israel uses the festival to sell an image of a modern and tolerant country, especially towards the LGBTIQ+ community (very present at Eurovision). Furthermore, this country has sponsored mass voting campaigns over the last two years in order to alter the results of the contest and distract public opinion from its repressive policies against the Palestinian people. We do not accept any country which uses Eurovision to whitewash its political image.
We reject Israel’s presence for undermining the festival’s reputation
The state of Israel and its delegation have politicised Eurovision since its debut in 1973, this being particularly noticeable in the last two editions and especially this year with the presence of a singer who was a victim of the Hamas attacks on October 7th. They have managed to make talk more about their presence than the songs, polarising public opinion and distracting from the musical nature of the contest, which should be the main priority.
We reject Israel’s presence for endangering other delegations
We do not forget the toxic atmosphere generated by the Israeli delegation and their harassment towards other delegations and press critical of their presence at the 2024 festival. We must not forget that the Grand Final was close to not being held that year after the disqualification of Joost Klein, the Dutch representative, due to the generated tension. Israel should have been held accountable for those acts of harassment and bullying.
We support the ban of Israel from Eurovision and other events
Israel must be banned from Eurovision, from the EBU, from any type of cultural and sporting events and from all international organisations due to its apartheid policies and indiscriminate killing of the Palestinian population. International organisations should act as they did with apartheid in South Africa or Milosevic’s Yugoslavia.
We reject the inaction and manipulation by the EBU
The EBU seems to be more obsessed with economic profit rather than concerned with the festival’s reputation, allowing the Israeli delegation to act with impunity. Instead of imposing order, they preferred to do nothing, use anti-booing technology and suppress audience noise in a clear act of manipulation of a television broadcast.
We will not be ‘United by Music’ if the EBU does not act against Israel with the same firmness as it did with Russia, Belarus or the former Yugoslavia. Unity through music will not exist while schools and hospitals are bombed, civilians are killed and people are left to starve. If not, the EBU will be yielding to political pressure and betraying the values it claims to defend. Music must be an instrument for peace and union of cultures, not an anthem for impunity.
Eurovision from A to Z team
