Israel has announced that the singer Eden Golan will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest next year. The 20-year-old was chosen after performing a cover of Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” on a television talent show in Israel. Following the announcement, she dedicated her performance to the more than 130 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza.
Despite the selection of Israel’s Eurovision entry, there have been calls for the country to be banned from the competition due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has led to a global outcry. Over 1,000 Swedish artists, including Robyn, Fever Ray, and First Aid Kit, recently signed an open letter to the European Broadcast Union (EBU), calling for Israel not to be allowed to compete in the competition.
The letter argued that, by allowing Israel’s participation, the competition risks trivialising violations of international law and making the suffering of the victims invisible. It added that Israel’s participation undermines the entire public service mission, and that it sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences.
Similarly, over 1,400 Finnish music industry professionals have signed a petition that urges a ban on Israel participating in the contest over alleged “war crimes” in Gaza. However, public broadcaster Yle has said it is monitoring the position of the EBU.
While there is a growing international drive to isolate Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, not all musicians have spoken out on the issue. UK Eurovision entrant Olly Alexander sparked criticism when he signed a pro-Palestine letter calling Israel an “apartheid state” that has committed acts of genocide, before he was confirmed as the UK’s Eurovision entrant
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