– It is a competition for broadcasters, not governments, and the Israeli broadcaster has participated for 50 years, says the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in a statement. The EBU organizes the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) every year, and believes that the Israeli broadcaster KAN meets all the requirements to be able to participate in this year’s competition. Thus, it is out of the question to ban Israel from this year’s competition in Malmö. The EBU says it wants to preserve the competition’s status as an apolitical event that unites audiences worldwide through music. Topic in the Broadcasting Council Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision was also the first issue on the list when the Broadcasting Council met for the first time this year. A boycott was not considered there either. – Advocating for a boycott of Israel will weaken news’s credibility as a news broadcaster, said broadcasting manager Vibeke Fürst Haugen during the meeting. – The demonstrators have every right to protest and disagree with news’s assessments, she said further. – Not a competition for states Like the EBU, Fürst Haugen pointed out that Eurovision is a competition for public broadcasters and not for states. – We are in close dialogue with our Nordic sister organizations and the EBU, stated Fürst Haugen. Received several inquiries The council’s deputy chairman Vilde Schanke Sundet opened today’s meeting of the Broadcasting Council. She stated that there has been great interest in the topic. – We have received more than 50 inquiries, said Schanke Sundet. – The criticism is that Israel is allowed to participate in the competition. Several write that they want to boycott the MGP broadcasts, she said further. Both Schanke Sundet and the broadcasting manager pointed out that a possible boycott of Israel in Eurovision is at the limit of what the Broadcasting Council should deal with. At the same time, Fürst Haugen said that the size of the event and the great public interest indicate that the public could benefit from treatment. Marion Ravn and Fredrik Solvang lead this year’s Norwegian MGP broadcasts. Photo: Espen Solli / news – The decision to participate in this year’s international final is news’s and therefore mine. I have great understanding of the commitment surrounding the war in the Middle East, as well as the fact that many people feel powerless, said Fürst Haugen, and added: – The incitement and pressure that presenters and artists are subjected to in social media is unacceptable. Protests The discussion about Israel’s participation in Eurovision came in the wake of several demonstrations around news’s MGP broadcasts. Towards the end of the first dolphin final on Saturday, a protester tried to interrupt the live TV programme. – Sorry for the interruption. There is a war going on and we can do more. Norway can do more, said the protester. Several people demonstrated in connection with the first semi-final in the MGP on Saturday. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich Earlier that evening, 116 protesters met at the doors of news. More reactions Before Christmas, it became clear that Israel will be allowed to take part in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Malmö. In the time that has followed, there have not only been reactions within Norway’s borders, people have also reacted abroad. Why is Israel allowed to participate in Eurovision, and not Russia? Both Russia and Israel are at war. Why does one country get to participate in Eurovision, but not the other? Many people find this difficult to understand. 2024 started, among other things, with 1,300 Finnish musicians joining together in a joint call, where they demanded that the broadcaster Yle put pressure on the organizers behind the Eurovision Song Contest to prevent Israeli participation. Similar calls from the music industry have also taken place in Iceland, among other places.
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Israel in Eurovision The Broadcasting Council discusses Israel’s participation in Eurovision – news Culture and entertainment
