Several Swedish artists are calling for Israel to be excluded from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. The artists, including Robyn, Fever Ray, and First Aid Kit, signed an open letter to the European Broadcast Union (EBU) urging them to ban Israel from participating in this year’s competition. The letter claims that Israel’s inclusion “trivializes violations of international law” and undermines the “spirit of the competition.” The EBU has not yet responded to the calls for a boycott.
This is not the first time that Israel’s participation in Eurovision has sparked controversy. In 2018, several prominent musicians and Eurovision finalists called for a boycott of the 2019 contest if it were held in Israel. And earlier this month, over 1,400 Finnish music industry professionals signed a petition urging for Israel to be banned from this year’s competition.
The calls for a boycott come in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 26,000 people and left more than 65,000 wounded. Many artists believe that Israel’s participation in Eurovision would send the message that governments can commit war crimes without consequences.
The EBU has previously banned Russia and Belarus from competing in Eurovision due to their political actions. However, it remains to be seen whether they will take action against Israel. As of now, the competition is set to be held in Malmö, Sweden on May 11
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