Israel can compete in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, organisers confirmed on Thursday, again rejecting calls for it to be excluded over the Gaza war like Russia was after invading Ukraine.
On Wednesday, a group of 400 celebrities including British actress Helen Mirren, British singer Boy George and former Kiss frontman Gene Simmons published an open letter supporting Eurovision's decision to maintain Israel's participation.
The letter was issued in response to petitions calling for Israel to be kicked out of the world's biggest live music event, which is being held in Malmo, Sweden, in May.
Approached by AFP, the European Broadcasting Union said it had conducted a review and decided late last year that Israel could participate in the kitsch annual pop extravaganza.
"The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments," EBU director general Noel Curran said, reiterating a statement made in January.
Forget politics... isn't EURO vision a EURO-pean contest? I thought Israel was in the middle east. Of course, I've never watched it, so maybe India and Australia compete as well.
Australia actually do…
When they say Europe they just mean countries with white western values
Correction: technically it's in the European Broadcasting Union zone. Notice, however, that most of those who compete are from white European countries with matching white Europian culture. There's a reason you don't see Morocco competing except for that one time in the 80s.
Israel tries to be a "European" country and a "Middle Eastern" one all the same. Too bad that what it actually is is a racist apartheid ethnostate.
It's because they are part of the European Broadcasting Union, which is mainly European countiees but also includes Egypt and Israel.
Associate members are also allowed to join Eurovision on a case by case basis which is where you get Australia going to Eurovision.
Close. It's a Euro-peen contest. At least some of the after parties probably are 🤷
Australia does compete in the ESC :D
Every "euro" sport competition join the chat.