Should Israel not compete in the European Song Contest?

"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"

No - I think the wrangles and the infighting should this be the ruling would destroy a contest which strives for peaceful sharing.

Keep nationalist politics out of the songs is the way ahead. A lot of people do enjoy Eurovision and it remains despite all a way of bringing people together.

^As as if all the subliminal hatred and anti-semitism buried in the subconscious of some people is being unleashed by this war.
Strangely I see very little of the same being expressed about Russian people by the war in Ukraine and of other atrocities around the world^

That’s an interesting point Callistemon21. People are happy (quite rightly) to acknowledge that the Russian people themselves are not all responsible for the actions of Putin. Yet, there seems to be a readiness to blame ‘all’ Jews for the actions of Netenyahu (apologies for spelling?). It certainly makes one think doesn’t it.

Well that would be really peaceful. Good idea to absolutely stop any communication on any level. Can’t believe anyone would support that. Then again, that is why we have wars,isn’t it a?

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"

Jaberwok, exactly; you've nailed it.

nanna8. I totally agree!! The entrance for the UK, or is it
just England?! Is beyond awful, a complete embarrassment. I stopped watching years ago, the content for the most part is grim!!!

Checked it out MayBee70, yes the original lyrics were very political and there was a great deal of controversy, and the singer wrote the lyrics, she isn't naive.

www.euronews.com/culture/2024/03/04/eurovision-2024-israel-agrees-to-change-lyrics-to-its-controversial-entry-october-rain

The whole contest is rubbish now. Just totally political and friends voting for friends. It’s been that way for years now, waste of time.

The original song was very political…
‘Israel will be allowed to compete at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 after changing the lyrics to its song, organisers have confirmed.
Eden Golan will represent the country at the contest in Sweden this May.
Her original song, October Rain, was thought to reference the Hamas attacks of 7 October and had been barred for breaking rules on political neutrality.
Israel's public broadcaster agreed to amend the song, now titled Hurricane, and will unveil it this weekend.
In a statement, The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) - which organises the contest - said earlier: "The EBU can confirm that the official submission from its Israeli Member Kan has been deemed eligible to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
"The Contest's Reference Group, its governing board, made the decision to accept the song 'Hurricane' for the upcoming competition after careful scrutiny of the lyrics.
"It was agreed that 'Hurricane' met the necessary criteria for participation in accordance with the rules of the competition."
Israeli broadcaster Kan had previously pledged not to alter the lyrics, but the country's President Isaac Herzog later called for "necessary adjustments" to ensure Israel can take part in the contest.
The original lyrics of October Rain - written in English - were published on Kan's website last month’.

Wyllow good post.

As as if all the subliminal hatred and anti-semitism buried in the subconscious of some people is being unleashed by this war.
Strangely I see very little of the same being expressed about Russian people by the war in Ukraine and of other atrocities around the world.

Governments come and go.

A love for one's country is entirely separate.

Freya countries such as Australia, Russia, etc have not always entered in the Eurovision Song Cntest. It is a fairly recent thing by Eurovision standards.
EBU - European Broadcasting Union.

Some events should be above politics.

Of course this young woman should sing because its events like this have ideally a chance of people coming together not furthering discord.

Regrettably, Eurovision has been the focus of politics - Ukraine/Russia being one - machinations behind the scenes and a political activist statement from the platform.

I am not pro the current Israeli regime nor Hamas but a great deal of anti-semitism has been unleashed by some.

It has done ordinary Palestinians no favours or help to be 'represented' in a hostile manner with the Annual Auschwitz Memorial March. - shame on them.

Jaberwok

So she's representing her country? You may not like the policies of the government of your country, but that doesn't stop you loving your country! Like a political party, if you truly believe in that party you support it through thick and thin, good times and bad. Well, those who dont, fair weather sailors, never really did in the first place. Perhaps this courageous young woman feels the same.

Well said.

Aveline

Is Israel in Europe? No. Therefore it shouldn't be in this competition.

Same could be said for Australia, yes? Azerbaijan Georgia. Ah all are members of the EBU, events organiser, therefore are allowed to compete. Getting facts right do help.

Oreo

I hope she does well, but with voting always political with Eurovision if she sang like an angel with a great song, there would only be a few points in it for her.I would love to be proved wrong.

Yes, however well she sings, however good the song, she will probably get nul points.

I do take your point about Israel, Australia, Russia being allowed to enter a European song contest, paddyann as well as other countries which may span Europe and Asia.

However, if events such as sport, music, cannot be free of politics and free from political protests, it's a very sad day for the world.
It is reminiscent of the 1972 Olympics when Israeli athletes were murdered at Munich.

Yes, I agree, anti-semitism is alive and thriving again. We do not know what this young woman's views are on her government's actions, but she is brave to think that music should be able to bring joy and should be free from politics and protest.

So she's representing her country? You may not like the policies of the government of your country, but that doesn't stop you loving your country! Like a political party, if you truly believe in that party you support it through thick and thin, good times and bad. Well, those who dont, fair weather sailors, never really did in the first place. Perhaps this courageous young woman feels the same.

Just for the record, here is a list of countries, to help us understand why they are not all in Europe:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

Thank you Smileless what could be the reason for some to
say Israel should not be included 🤔

No Annie, they first joined in 1973 and were the first non European country to do so.

Is this the first time Israel has entered ?

Quote from Jabberwock "But why should she? Anymore than individual Russians should be banned from Wimbledon, or anything else come to that. No one can help how or where they were born or the shape of their government. This young woman isn't responsible for Israeli policy on Gaza, so why punish her for it?"

I would simply point out that in this instance she is representing her country unlike tennis players at Wimbledon who are playing for themselves.

That aside I totally agree that she should be allowed to sing free from political concerns.

There are quite a few countries in Europe but Israel and Australia are not one of them. So they should never have been entered. Too late now, that poor young woman is now trapped in her hotel room and this is going to affect her performance if she actually gets to perform. What a mess, the organisers are stupid and should never have let this happen.

Loreen the Swedish entry won last year and I thought that song was very good.

It's not the far right though is it. It's the far left. In fact I am not sure left and right have much meaning anymore. Greta thunberg for example is not part of the far right.

It would be good to see the best song/performance win regardless of which country is being represented, but that hasn't happened for a very long time.