The Israeli delegation will not be present at the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden on Sunday. The organization announced this on Friday.
The reason is Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel on May 5, reports the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Singer Eden Golan participates in the song on behalf of the country Hurricane. However, she will not appear on the turquoise carpet during the opening ceremony of the party. Normally, participants in the competition make their appearance here, in the presence of the press. It has happened twice before that Israel was not present at Eurovision festivities due to the commemoration day.
Various countries have previously called on the EBU not to allow Israel to participate because of the war in Gaza, as was the case with Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine. However, the organizer has repeatedly stated that the Eurovision Song Contest is a ‘non-political event’ and that Israel complies with all the rules. According to Eurovision boss Martin Österdahl, the organization always tries to ensure that political messages are not visible on stage.
More than 250 prominent figures, including Nasrdin Dchar, Najib Amhali and Ramsey Nasr, recently asked Dutch participant Joost Klein in an open letter not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation. He doesn’t respond to that. The singer said he heard ‘the pain’ from the people who think he should cancel, but stated that he cannot go back. “Unfortunately, I think it’s too big of a dilemma to put on a little harlequin like me,” Klein said. “If I were a world leader, I would have done something a long time ago, I hope.”
Twan van de Nieuwenhuijzen, the head of the Dutch Eurovision delegation, also did not get involved in the discussion about whether Israel should participate. The situation in Gaza is “horrendous,” he said. But: “It is also political and we are not in favor of that.” AvroTros previously announced that it would simply send a delegation to the party.
“The horrors in Gaza touch us deeply,” the appeal said. “We also hope that there will be an immediate end to the suffering. But the Eurovision Song Contest is an apolitical music festival and not a competition between the governments of countries. This is therefore not the place where this deep-rooted conflict can be resolved.”
– Read all about the Eurovision Song Contest on the Song Contest section of this site.
– Wonder when Joost Klein will take action or why Australia is actually participating. Read it all in the most frequently asked questions about the Eurovision Song Contest.
Also listen to the AD Eurovision Song Contest Podcast:
Unfortunately, we cannot show this social post, live blog or otherwise because it contains one or more social media elements. Accept the social media cookies to still show this content.
Watch our Eurovision Song Contest videos below:
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
Tags: Israel present opening ceremony Eurovision Song Contest Show
