Should Israel not compete in the European Song Contest?

There are many adverts on Facebook asking for aid for the children of Yemen. Amnesty International has constant campaigns trying to support the wrongfully imprisoned Uighars, Iranian protestors, people in Africa and South America. Church organisations ask for donations to support the displaced in Syria, Ukraine and Sudan.
If you feel strongly about a specific injustice, you can find people are willing to help. All we have to do, from the safety of our own homes, is to write and support a campaign or donate.

Why do those who claim not to be antisemitic march or support the marchers who are antisemitic ?

Yes, GrannyGravy13, I have Jewish friends who are very afraid. But too often recently, politicians who spoke out against Netanyahu, were condemned and punished as being anti- Semitic. He should have been properly challenged before now. He is fanning the flames. He is fighting, not for Israel and the Jewish people, but to save his own political life.

"Jewish people are afraid, please do not dismiss their fear or the fact that antisemitism is on the rise worldwide."

No, I do not deny this, not for a moment, but it is not the sole factor at work as I tried to explain above.

I abhor Hamas not Islam.

I live very close to an area which has a very high population of Jews. They are traditional Orthodox Jews who are easily recognisable. They live in a very small area. I have not seen any reports in the local press of any of them being oppressed or targetted by anyone protesting about the Israeli invasion of Gaza. So if there is antisemitism it isn't active here.

I certainly don't conflate my views about the oppression of the Palestinian people with any antisemitism. Just as the oppression of black people in South Africa was wrong and not all white people were involved in this, the oppression of Palestine is wrong and not all Jews are involved in this.

The concept that this is in some way a recent event is also wrong. Israel has had restrictions on Gaza for many years. One country cannot dominate and restrict the actions of any group of people for ever. Those people will rise up. Nor is this the first time Gaza has been bombed and destroyed by Israel. Many of those marching know this and are saying this is enough. Israel cannot go on destroying a country without alienating others.

Israel should be part of Eurovision - as should Russia, if it is/was a member.

Eurovision is not a political matter.

Glorianny you said it ‘not all Jews are involved’ , this can only
be followed by ‘some Jews are’ .

Glorianny I fully agree

Hamas can go on raping little ones, murdering, kidnapping without retaliation Aveline ?

Candelle

*To Glorianny: I would say in the interests of promoting peace no country currently actively involved the invasion of another country should be permitted to enter the contest. Russia was banned Israel should be.*

Invasion? Really? Israel has to root out those that invaded them. Extremely unfortunately (which does not in any way cover the situation) Hamas hides in: hospitals, schools and apartment blocks. Cowards. Palestinians suffer, as Hamas made no effort to secure provisions for what they knew would happen but Israel has not invaded. That, was Hamas, if you remember.

The current 'protesting' situation does smack of Germany in the 1930's and heavens knows what lies ahead. People with little depth of knowledge of the situation are being whipped up. Ask many of them a few questions about Hamas and they won't have a clue. Just jumping on a protesting bandwagon which ultimately may lead where I hope, no one wants it to.

Yes, Israel, should be allowed to enter the song contest. Why should the fact that their country was attacked and they are trying to defend themselves come in to a song contest?

Thank you, Candelle, for this voice of reason and support.
Likewise Maddyone and others.

Welcome back Phillippa you have been missed

I suspect Philippa the voice of support may be the majority, it's just the others are very loud.

Thank you both. Life is just too stressful for me right now and I couldn't handle the anti Israel rhetoric here.
Seems that people forgot who attacked / invaded whom on October 7th.
I am very against Netanyahu and his right-wing government but support the need to eliminate the terrorist group Hamas, who have promised to commit massacres again and again..
I find it hard to defend Israel against people who live on the other side of the world and have a pre-defined agenda against us.
Everyone is entitled to their views, I am just managing my energy and stress levels as best I can.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend
Philippa

Good to hear from you Philippa60 please take care of yourself and those around you.

I cannot imagine how stressful it is for you at this time.

Thanks so much, GG13

Well done Jaberwok I agree absolutely . It’s an absolute disgrace that the Israelis are getting all this flak when Hamas attacked them in the first place. What about the hostages ? Don’t they matter? Antisemitism is alive and well and flourishing out of control . I have sympathy for the ordinary civilians of Gaza but their own terrorists put them in this situation

Anniebach

Glorianny you said it ‘not all Jews are involved’ , this can only
be followed by ‘some Jews are’ .

Of course some Jews are Anniebach. Do you not realise that there is a right wing section of Judaism who are just as intolerant as any other religious zealots? They consider the whole of the land in Gaza as theirs, would willingly kill or displace any Palestinians who are there, and would expand the boundaries of Israel no matter what the cost to others.

TwiceAsNice

Well done Jaberwok I agree absolutely . It’s an absolute disgrace that the Israelis are getting all this flak when Hamas attacked them in the first place. What about the hostages ? Don’t they matter? Antisemitism is alive and well and flourishing out of control . I have sympathy for the ordinary civilians of Gaza but their own terrorists put them in this situation

The conflict between Israel and Gaza did not begin on 7th October. It has been a festering wound for years.

Yes, Israel should be allowed to take part. Nothing is gained by dragging politics into entertainment or sport. The girl is young but sounds very aware of what she is into.

But I disagree with the assumption that opposition to Israel is necessarily antisemitic. This kind of thinking can do much harm.

Why is antisemitism on such an increase ?

MayBee70

Wyllow3

Maremia

Being against Netanyahu, and his policies, is not the same as being anti-Semitic. There are many Jews in Israel and around the world who oppose him. Being against Hamas and their policies is not the same as being anti-Islamic.

Agreed but I wish people would "hear" this. And these voices tend to get drowned out.

I agree.

Why are they drowned out?

Where are the placards, the posters, the people saying they don't support Hamas?

Very few and far between.

If there are any they are shut down on purpose, by virtue of the fact there are more protesters who support what Hamas has done.

How many newly elected Muslim councillors have condemned Hamas?

These local leaders have a perfect position to encourage a broader discussion about Hamas within their communities.
I don't have faith that this will be at all considered, or put into action.

Glorianny

There's the usual inaccurate nonsense about the lack of protests for the conflicts in Sudan and other places at the start of this thread. Having been involved in many protests in many different forms about these various conflicts, and having been active in opposing this country's involvement in the supply of weapons I can tell those posters they are wrong. Not all protests receive as much publicity, so they must just have missed them.

I would say in the interests of promoting peace no country currently actively involved the invasion of another country should be permitted to enter the contest. Russia was banned Israel should be.
The young girl sent to be the centre of this controversy has my sympathy, but she has always the option to step down and say "No"

Well, I must have blinked, Glorianny.

I hope you all stop googling, and no phones any more. Jewish inventions along with many others.

Ridiculous to terrify the 20 year old that just wants to sing a lovely song

Any of you, Jewish? It's not a great time to be a Jewish.

Russia invaded Ukraine for land grab.
Israel invaded Gaza in response to being attacked. There’s a big difference.