Controversies of the Eurovision Song Contest#Gaza war (2023–present)

{{Main|Armenia–Azerbaijan relations in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

File:20150515 ESC 2015 Genealogy 6153.jpg", the entry performed by Genealogy for {{Esccnty|Armenia|y=2015|t=Armenia in 2015}}, had its original title changed due to an alleged reference to the Armenian genocide.]]

The continuing conflict between {{Esccnty|Armenia}} and {{Esccnty|Azerbaijan}} has affected the contest on numerous occasions since both countries entered the contest in the late 2000s. In {{Escyr|2009}}, a number of people in Azerbaijan who voted for the Armenian entry were reportedly questioned by Azeri police.{{cite news|title=Azerbaijanis in Eurovision probe|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8205907.stm|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2025-01-28|date=2009-08-18|author=}} The Armenian participating broadcaster, the Public Television Company of Armenia (AMPTV), requested for {{Esccnty|Armenia|y=2015|t=its entry}} to the {{Escyr|2015||2015 contest}} to be changed from its original title "Don't Deny" to "Face the Shadow", following claims that it contained a call for recognition of the Armenian genocide, which would violate contest rules regarding political statements.{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rules|url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/|website=Eurovision.TV|date=2018-10-31|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2020-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617145258/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/|archive-date=2020-06-17|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Armenia changes song title|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/armenia-changes-song-title|website=Eurovision.TV|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2020-07-08|date=2015-03-17}}{{cite news|url=https://agbu.org/spiritual-rebirth/statement-armenian-unity-eurovision|work=AGBU|edition=September 2015|first=Liana|last=Aghajanian|title=A Statement of Armenian Unity at Eurovision}}{{cite web|first=Giorgi|last=Lomsadze|title=Armenia Dodges Eurovision Controversy|url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-dodges-eurovision-controversy|work=Eurasianet|access-date=2021-03-20|date=2015-03-17}} Controversy erupted again in {{Escyr|2016}} when Armenia's representative Iveta Mukuchyan was shown waving the flag of the Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway state internationally recognised as a part of Azerbaijan but largely inhabited by ethnic Armenians, at the contest's first semi-final.{{cite news|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/05/11/iveta-mukuchyan-nagorno-karabakh-eurovision-2016/141727/|work=Wiwibloggs|title=Iveta Mukuchyan on Nagorno-Karabakh flag: "I just want to have peace on the borders"|first=Luis|last=Fuster|date=2016-05-11|access-date=2025-01-28}} This again contravened Eurovision rules on political gestures and resulted in disciplinary action being levied against ARMTV.{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Halpin|title=EBU sanctions Armenian broadcaster over Nagorno-Karabakh flag incident|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/05/11/ebu-sanctions-armenian-broadcaster-nagorno-karabakh-flag-incident/141783/|work=Wiwibloggs|access-date=2021-03-20|date=2016-05-11}}

{{Main|Russia–Ukraine relations in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

File:Eurovision_2023_-_Jury_Final_-_Opening_Act_-_Kalush_Orchestra_(02).jpg, winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 for Ukraine, performed as the opening act in the final of the {{Escyr|2023|3=2023 contest}}. The 2023 event was held in the British city of Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, which was unable to host due to the Russian invasion of the country.]]

Interactions between {{Esccnty|Russia}} and {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} in the contest had originally been positive in the first years of co-competition,{{Cite web |last=Ross Russell |first=Fin |date=2022-02-17 |title=Reflections Of Russia and Ukraine At The Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://escinsight.com/2022/02/17/reflections-russia-ukraine-eurovision-song-contest/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=ESC Insight}} until the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas. In {{Escyr|2016}}, Ukraine's Jamala won the contest with the song "1944", whose lyrics referenced the deportation of the Crimean Tatars. Given the events in Crimea, many saw this song as a political statement against Russia's actions. However, the song was permitted to compete given the perceived historical nature of the song, despite protests from the Russian delegation.{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Savage|title=Eurovision: Ukraine's entry aimed at Russia|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35630395|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2020-07-08|date=2016-02-22}}{{cite news|first=Adam|last=Withnall|title=Russian officials threaten to boycott next Eurovision after victory for 'political' Ukraine entry|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eurovision-song-contest-2016-winner-ukraine-jamala-russia-threat-boycott-next-year-a7030591.html|work=The Independent|access-date=2020-07-08|date=2016-05-15}} Calls for a Russian boycott of the {{Escyr|2017||2017 contest}} in Ukraine were dismissed, but their representative Julia Samoylova was subsequently banned from entering Ukraine, due to breaking Ukrainian law by having performed in Crimea in 2015 and entering the region directly from Russia rather than going through Ukraine.{{cite news|title=Eurovision 2017: Ukraine bars Russian singer Samoilova from contest|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39354775|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2025-01-28|date=2017-03-22}} Offers for Samoylova to compete remotely from a venue in Russia, or for another representative to compete in her place, were rejected by Russia's broadcaster Channel One, eventually pulling out of the contest. The EBU condemned the Ukrainian government's decision to impose a travel ban,{{cite web|title=EBU: "Russia no longer able to take part in Eurovision 2017"|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russia-unable-to-participate-2017-ebu-statement|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2025-01-28|date=2017-04-13}} and warned that UA:PBC risk exclusion from future events.{{cite news|title=Eurovision threatens to ban Ukraine over Russian singer row|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/01/eurovision-threatens-to-ban-ukraine-over-russian-singer-row|access-date=2020-07-08|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=The Guardian}}

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the UA:PBC appealed to suspend Russian EBU member broadcasters RTR and Channel One from the RTR, and to exclude Russia from competing in {{Escyr|2022|3=that year's contest}}. The appeal alleged that since the beginning of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, VGTRK and Channel One had been a mouthpiece for the Russian government and a key tool of political propaganda financed from the Russian state budget.{{Cite press release|first=Mykola|last=Chernotytskyi|title=Суспільне вимагає припинити членство російських ЗМІ у ЄМС|trans-title=Suspilne demands the termination of the membership of the Russian media in the EBU|url=https://corp.suspilne.media/newsdetails/4807|date=2022-02-24|access-date=2025-01-28|website=Suspilne Media|publisher=UA:PBC|language=uk}} The EBU initially stated that Russia as well as Ukraine would still be allowed to participate in the contest, citing the non-political nature of the event.{{Cite news|first=Alex|last=Green|date=2022-02-24|title=Russia can compete in Eurovision despite Ukraine invasion, organisers say|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/russia-ukraine-turin-crimea-people-b2022285.html|access-date=2025-01-28|work=The Independent|language=en}}{{Cite news|first=Daniel|last=Wyser|date=2022-02-24|title=Trots krigshandling – Ryssland välkomnas fortfarande till ESC|url=https://www.svt.se/kultur/ryssland-valkomnas-fortfarande-till-esc|access-date=2022-02-24|website=SVT Nyheter|publisher=Sveriges Television|language=sv}} Following complaints levied by other participating countries, the EBU announced on 25 February that Russia would not be allowed to take part in the 2022 contest, stating it would bring the competition into disrepute.{{Cite press release|date=2022-02-25|title=EBU statement regarding the participation of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022|url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-russia-2022|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Eurovision.TV|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|language=en-gb}}{{Cite news|date=2022-02-25|title=Eurovision: Russia banned from competing at 2022 Song Contest|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60530513|access-date=2022-02-26|author=}} Ukraine went on to win that edition of the contest, with the highest number of points from the televote in its entire history.{{Cite news|first=Clothilde|last=Goujard|date=2022-05-15|title=Bombarded at home, Ukraine finds symbolic win at Eurovision |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-wins-eurovision-song-contest-2022-war-russia-invasion-solidarity-mariupol/|access-date=2025-01-28|work=Politico|language=en-US}}

Following its 2022 win, Ukraine was initially given the opportunity to host the {{Escyr|2023|3=2023 contest}}. However, the EBU later decided that the country would not be able to host due to the Russian invasion.{{Cite press release|date=2022-06-17|title=EBU Statement on Hosting of 2023 Eurovision Song Contest|url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-2023-eurovision-hosting|access-date=2022-06-17|website=Eurovision.TV|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|language=en-gb}} The United Kingdom, which had finished in second place in 2022, was instead chosen to host the contest on Ukraine's behalf.{{Cite press release|title=BBC sets out Host City process and production plans for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/eurovision-2023-bbc-host-city-process-production-plans/|access-date=2025-01-28|website=BBC Media Centre|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|language=en|date=2022-07-25}} Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested to address the audience during the final of that year's contest, but it was rejected by the EBU on the basis of its wish to not politicize the event.{{Cite news|first=K.J.|last=Yossman|date=2023-05-12|title=Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 'Barred' From Eurovision Telecast|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/volodymyr-zelenskyy-banned-eurovision-ukraine-1235610926/|access-date=2025-01-28|work=Variety|language=en}} Ternopil, the hometown of that year's Ukrainian representatives Tvorchi, was targeted by Russian missile strikes ahead of Tvorchi's performance; the duo later held up a makeshift sign with 'Ternopil' written on it during the recap of the competing performances.{{Cite news|date=2023-05-13|title=Ukraine Eurovision act's city Ternopil attacked before performance|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65586701|access-date=2025-01-28|first1=Vitaly|last1=Shevchenko|first2=Thomas|last2=Mackintosh}}

{{Further|Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009}}

{{Esccnty|Georgia}}'s planned entry for the {{Escyr|2009||2009 contest}} in Moscow caused controversy: in the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War, Stephane and 3G were selected to compete with the song "We Don't Wanna Put In", but the EBU objected to the lyrics as they appeared to criticise then-Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. Requests by the EBU for the lyrics of the song to be changed were refused by the group, and Georgian broadcaster GPB subsequently withdrew from the event.{{cite web |title=Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7935865.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=10 March 2009}}{{sfn|West|2020|pp=253–257}} A number of boycotts of the contest were considered by the Baltic states over Russia's actions in Georgia, but none eventually occurred, with Estonian broadcaster ERR hosting a poll on its website to gauge public opinion on competing in Russia.{{sfn|West|2020|pp=253–257}}{{cite web |last1=Stella |first1=Floras |title=Estonia will participate in 2009 Eurovision! |url=http://esctoday.com/12296/estonia_will_participate_in_2009_eurovision/ |website=esctoday.com |access-date=8 July 2020 |date=17 September 2008}}

{{further|Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest}}Israel first competed in the contest in {{Escyr|1973}}, becoming the first country from outside of Europe to enter. Its participation in the contest over the years has been at times controversial, but it has remained a regular competitor in the contest and been crowned the winner on four occasions.

The country's first appearance in 1973 was marked by an increased security presence at the contest venue in Luxembourg City than what would have been considered normal in the early 1970s, coming less than a year after the Munich massacre where 11 members of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team were killed by the Palestinian militant organisation Black September. Armed guards were stationed at the venue, and the audience in attendance were warned not to stand during the show at the risk of being shot.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=52–55}}{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1973 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}}{{sfn|West|2020|pp=83–86}}

The contest was regularly broadcast in the Arab world during the 1970s, but as many of these countries did not recognise Israel, their broadcasters typically cut to advertisements when Israel performed.{{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2014 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-093-9 |volume=Two: The 1970s }} When in {{Escyr|1978}} it became apparent that Israel was on course to win the contest, the broadcast in many of these countries was cut short before the end of the voting, with Jordanian broadcaster JTV explaining the end of its transmission as due to "technical difficulties" and concluding its transmission with an image of daffodils; Jordanian media later announced that {{Esccnty|Belgium}}, the eventual runner-up, had won instead.{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Paris 1978 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/paris-1978 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=72–75}}{{sfn|West|2020|pp=103–105}}

Due to Israel's participation in the contest, it is believed that many Arab states that are eligible to participate in the contest choose not to do so, however, a number of attempts have been made by some of those countries to enter. Tunisia had applied to take part in the {{Escyr|1977||1977 contest}}, and had been drawn to perform fourth on stage, but later withdrew.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}}{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=4 July 2020}} {{Esccnty|Morocco}} competed for the first, and to date the only time, in {{Escyr|1980}}, when Israel had withdrawn from the contest due to it being held on the same night as Yom HaZikaron.{{efn|The night of the 1980 contest, 19 April 1980, was the start of Yom HaZikaron, the memorial day for fallen soldiers of Israel.[https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/yom-hazikaron-1980 Yom HaZikaron 1980], Hebcal. Contrary to claims by some sources, it was not Holocaust Memorial Day, or Yom HaShoah, which fell on 13–14 April that year.[https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/yom-hashoah-1980 Yom HaShoah 1980], Hebcal.}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=80–83}}{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Hague 1980 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/the-hague-1980 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=7 July 2020}}{{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2016 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-093-9 |volume=Three: The 1980s }} Most recently, {{Esccnty|Lebanon}} had signed up to compete in the {{Escyr|2005||2005 contest}}, and had selected "Quand tout s'enfuit" as its debut entry, to be performed by Aline Lahoud. After being told by the EBU that it would have to broadcast the entire programme in full, including the Israeli entry, Télé Liban responded that it could not guarantee this as it would be incompatible with Lebanese law. The broadcaster therefore withdrew its entry, resulting in sanctions from the EBU due to the late withdrawal.{{cite news|title=Lebanon withdraws from Eurovision|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4362373.stm|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=2025-01-28|date=2005-03-18|author=}}

Israel has hosted the contest on three occasions, with the first two ({{Escyr|1979}} and {{Escyr|1999}}) being held in Jerusalem. Due to the preparations and rehearsals which accompany the contest, and the Saturday evening timeslot for the final, objections from Orthodox religious leaders in the country regarding the potential interruption to Shabbat have been raised on all three occasions. In 1979, these objections were largely ignored and preparations for the contest were held mostly unchanged from standard, but Turkey was pressured into withdrawing from the contest by Arab states who objected to a predominantly Muslim country taking part in Israel.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=76–79}} Objections were again raised in 1999 with regards to the contest being held around Shabbat, as well as criticism levelled against Dana International, the contest's first trans winner, leading to an attempt to stop the contest being held in Israel at all. However, all of these criticisms were in vain and the contest went ahead as planned.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}{{cite news|title=Entertainment Scandinavians tipped for Eurovision success|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/355457.stm|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=2020-07-07|date=1999-05-29}}

In 2019, a number of controversial incidents occurred in the run-up to {{Escyr|2019||that year's contest}} in Tel Aviv. Requests were once again received from Orthodox leaders that the contest not interfere with Shabbat, with a letter penned by Yaakov Litzman, leader of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, to several government departments demanding that the contest not violate the holy day.{{cite news |first=Jeremy |last=Sharon |title=Litzman demands Shabbat not be violated for Eurovision 2019 |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Litzman-demands-Shabbat-not-be-violated-for-Eurovision-2019-556381 |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=2020-07-07 |date=2018-05-18}} Shalva Band, one of the competing entrants in the country's {{Esccnty|Israel|y=2019|t=national selection for that year's contest}}, ultimately withdrew from contention when told that, should they win, they would be required to perform in rehearsals on the Shabbat; the group ultimately performed as an interval act during the contest's second semi-final.{{cite news |first=Ron |last=Kavaler |title=Israel: The Shalva Band withdraws from The Next Star…but they will perform at Semi-Final 2 of Eurovision 2019 |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/02/06/israel-the-shalva-band-withdraws-from-the-next-star-for-eurovision-2019-due-to-esc-rehearsals-on-shabbat/232615/ |website=Wiwibloggs |access-date=2020-07-07 |date=2019-02-06}}{{cite web |title=Shalva Band – A Million Dreams – Interval Act – Second Semi-FInal Eurovision 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/shalva-band-a-million-dreams-interval-act-second-semi-final-eurovision-2019 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=2020-07-07}}

The 2019 contest also saw calls from a number of different groups for a boycott of the event, which included proponents of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in response to the Israeli policies towards Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as in opposition to what they see as "pinkwashing" by the Israeli government.{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Farrell |title=Israel counters Eurovision boycott campaign with Google ads |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-eurovision-israel-preparations/israel-counters-eurovision-boycott-campaign-with-google-ads-idUSKCN1SG11L |work=Reuters |access-date=2020-07-07 |date=2019-05-10}}{{cite web |first=Haneen |last=Maikey |last2=Aked |first2=Hilary |title=L'Eurovision comme occasion de pinkwashing pour Israël – la communauté LGBT+ devrait le boycotter |url=http://agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2019/03/04/15797/ |work=Agence Média Palestine |access-date=2020-07-07 |language=fr |trans-title=Eurovision as a pinkwashing opportunity for Israel – the LGBT+ community should boycott it |date=2019-03-04}} Others campaigned against a boycott of the event, asserting that any cultural boycott would be antithetical to advancing peace in the region.{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Sherwin |title=Eurovision 2019: Stephen Fry & Sharon Osbourne lead celebrities rejecting boycott of Israel Song Contest |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/stephen-fry-sharon-osbourne-lead-celebrities-rejecting-boycott-of-israel-eurovision-song-contest-285507 |work=i|access-date=2020-07-07 |date=2019-04-30}} Most notably, the {{Esccnty|Iceland|y=2019|t=Icelandic}} entrants Hatari raised banners showing the Palestinian flag as their televoting points were announced in the final;{{Cite news |last=Fiorentino |first=Michael-Ross |date=2019-05-19 |title=Iceland's Hatari raises Palestinian flags during Eurovision results |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/19/iceland-s-hatari-raises-palestinian-flags-during-eurovision-results |access-date=2021-05-16 |work=Euronews |language=en}} this eventually caused the Icelandic participating broadcaster RÚV to be fined {{currency|5,000|EU|passthrough=yes}}.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-20 |title=Iceland's RÚV fined €5000 over Hatari Palestinian flag incident |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/09/20/icelands-ruv-fined-e5000-over-hatari-palestinian-flag-incident/242354/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=Wiwibloggs |language=en-US |first=Lauren |last=Agam}}

File:Yuval_Raphael_at_ESC2025_for_Israel_5.jpg, the Israeli entrant in {{Escyr|2025}}, at the opening ceremony in Basel with pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the background]]Israel's participation in the contest was again put into controversy ahead of the {{Escyr|2024||2024 edition}} in Malmö, Sweden, following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023 and the humanitarian crisis resulting from Israeli military operations in Gaza during the war.{{Cite web |last=Asido |first=Shahar |date=2023-11-19 |title=מה יעלה בגורלה של ישראל באירוויזיון? |trans-title=What will happen to Israel in Eurovision? |url=https://www.euromix.co.il/2023/11/19/מה-יעלה-בגורלה-של-ישראל-באירוויזיון/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=EuroMix |language=he-IL}}{{Cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |last2=Sella |first2=Adam |date=2024-02-07 |title=Israel Chooses a Eurovision Act as Boycott Campaigns Swirl |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/07/arts/music/israel-eurovision-war-boycott.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=2024-02-08 |title=Israel chooses Eurovision 2024 entrant amid calls for a boycott |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68238270 |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2024-02-15 |title=Gene Simmons, Helen Mirren, Boy George sign open letter supporting Israel's inclusion in Eurovision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/15/gene-simmons-helen-mirren-boy-george-sign-open-letter-supporting-israels-inclusion-in-eurovision |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |author=}} A separate controversy erupted regarding the lyrics of the song Israel had originally submitted, "October Rain". The EBU ruled that the song was in violation of the rules, as its lyrics appeared to reference the 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas-led Palestinian militants. Israel eventually submitted a modified version of the song with a new title, "Hurricane", which was accepted by the EBU to compete.{{Cite news |last=Bugel |first=Safi |date=2024-03-07 |title=Israel to compete at Eurovision song contest after changing lyrics to its entry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/07/israel-to-compete-at-eurovision-song-contest-after-changing-lyrics-to-its-entry |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Miranda |date=2024-04-07 |title='We are not the arena to solve a Middle East conflict': Sweden braced for a politically charged Eurovision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/07/eurovision-sweden-middle-east-conflict-israel |access-date=2024-04-12 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite news |date=2024-05-10 |title=Why is Israel allowed to participate in Eurovision even though Russia was banned? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-11/israel-eurovision-2024-song-contest-russia/103829704 |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU |first=Yasmin |last=Jeffery}} Protests against Israel's participation were held in Malmö during the contest,{{Cite news |date=2024-05-09 |title=Thousands protest against Israel's entry for Eurovision in Malmo |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68986410 |access-date=2025-01-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |first=Kathryn |last=Armstrong}} and Israel's performances on stage were met with booing from the audience,{{Cite web |date=2024-05-09 |title=Eurovision 2024: Israel entrant Eden Golan booed at semi-final rehearsal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjewg9enx27o |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Whisnant |first=Gabe |date=2024-05-11 |title=Israel's Eurovision contestant booed and jeered amid cheers, videos show |url=https://www.newsweek.com/israel-eurovision-contestant-eden-golan-booed-cheered-loudly-videos-show-1899600 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Pollack |first=Taliah |date=2024-05-17 |title=Buropen mot Eden Golan gjorde mig riktigt illa till mods |trans-title=Eden Golan being booed made me feel very uncomfortable |url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2024-05-17/buropen-mot-eden-golan-gjorde-mig-riktigt-illa-till-mods/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=Sydsvenskan |language=sv}} which was reportedly suppressed in the live television broadcast.{{cite news |title=Audio Analysis: Eurovision Broadcaster Muted Sounds of Crowd Booing and Shouting "Free Palestine!" |url=https://theintercept.com/2025/05/17/eurovision-censored-israel-booing-free-palestine/ |access-date=19 May 2025 |work=The Intercept |date=17 May 2025 |url-access=registration}}

Acts of discontent continued into the {{Escyr|2025||2025 contest}} in Basel, Switzerland, where during the third dress rehearsal for the second semi-final, "six people with whistles and 'oversized' Palestinian flags" started obstructing the Israeli performance.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-15 |title=Israel qualifies for Eurovision final after protests disrupt rehearsal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c780xn5p72jo |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} On 6 May 2025, 72 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter calling for Israel and its national broadcaster Kan to be excluded from the contest, accusing the EBU of normalising and whitewashing "crimes against humanity" and of applying a double standard compared to the exclusion of Russia in 2022.{{cite news |title=Former Eurovision contestants call for Israel and broadcaster KAN to be banned from contest |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/eurovision-2025-israel-open-letter-b2745466.html |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=The Independent |date=6 May 2025}} On 7 May 2025, Kevin Bakhurst, director-general of {{esccnty|Ireland|t=Irish}} broadcaster RTÉ, requested that EBU members discuss Israel's participation; he later reported that "there is a commitment from the EBU to have a wider discussion {{omission|amongst members|br=yes}} in due course", without providing further details.{{cite web|last=Vautrey|first=Jonathan|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2025/05/10/eurovision-organisers-commit-to-discuss-israel-inclusion/284740/|title=EBU commits to a 'wider discussion' about Israel's appearance at Eurovision|work=Wiwibloggs|date=2025-05-10|access-date=2025-05-16}} Following the final, in which Israel won the public vote and finished second overall, several participating broadcasters raised concerns with the voting system and requested a rework.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-21 |title=Eurovision: Israel's result prompts questions over voting |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg77pxj2mno |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez and that year's winner JJ joined calls to exclude Israel from the competition, with the former also citing a double standard in comparison to Russia.{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/television/2025-05-19/pedro-sanchez-israel-no-deberia-participar-en-eurovision.html|title=Pedro Sánchez: 'Israel no debería participar en Eurovisión'|language=es-ES|work=El País|date=2025-05-19|access-date=2025-05-19}}{{cite web|last=Vautrey|first=Jonathan|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2025/05/21/eurovision-2025-winner-jj-supports-calls-israel-expulsion/284992/|title='I would like Eurovision in Vienna without Israel' — 2025 champion JJ calls for changes to the participant list and voting system|work=Wiwibloggs|date=2025-05-21|access-date=2025-05-22}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

Sources:

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |date=2010 |publisher=Carlton Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-84732-521-1 |edition=2nd}}
• {{cite book |last=West |first=Chris |author-link=Chris West |title=Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=Melville House UK |location=London |isbn=978-1-911545-55-2 |edition=2nd}}

{{refend}}

• {{Official website|https://eurovision.tv/}}
• {{Official website|https://www.ebu.ch/projects/tv/eurovision-song-contest|name=EBU website}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}

Category:Eurovision Song Contest

Category:Political controversies

Eurovision

Eurovision