Tali Golargant/courtesy of RTL and Tali Eshkoli Productions
Over a thousand musicians from Sweden, which will host this year's Eurovision Song Contest, signed an open letter calling for Israel to be banned from the contest because of what they called "its brutal war in Gaza."
Among the signatories of the letter are the singers Robin and Faber Rae from the group The Knife, the folk duo First Aid Kit, Sweden's representative for Eurovision 2011 Erik Khaled Saada and Sweden's representative for Eurovision 2009 Malana Ernman.
In addition, Swedish activist Greta Tonberry signed the letter.
In the letter, published in the Swedish newspaper "Aftonbladet", the musicians claimed that by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowing Israel to participate in the competition, it "demonstrates an incredible double standard that undermines the credibility of the union".
They also wrote that "the fact that countries that place themselves above humanitarian law are invited to participate in international cultural events demonstrates a lack of importance to violations of international law and makes the suffering of the victims invisible."
The letter appears after a similar petition signed by about 1400 artists from Finland and Iceland who also called for Israel to be boycotted from Eurovision 2024 following the Gaza war, and other calls for a boycott from artists and contestants and contest winners across Europe.
She also signed.
Swedish singer Rubin/GettyImages, Matthew Baker
Not all of Europe boycotts Israel and Israelis.
Last Saturday, the 23-year-old Israeli Tali Goulargant, who works under her first name only - Tali, was chosen to represent Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Fighter", after the country's 31-year absence from the competition.
In an interview with Walla!
Tarbut, a few hours before her win, said that while performing the song, she would think about her brother, who returned that day from fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"For me it's a victory: he came out and he will see me - so I won."
Regarding the many calls to boycott Israel from the contest, Tali said: "What I think as an Israeli is that Eurovision is a music festival and we are here to be together, to celebrate music and unite us all through culture. I think all the calls for a boycott are bullshit, it's just crazy, it's just plain hate. We are here to do something together with music, and it doesn't matter where you are from."
In addition, the friend of Israel, Eurovision winner Ann Marie Dovid, participated in the artistic part of Luxembourg's pre-Eurovision, wearing the yellow pin as a sign of identification and raising awareness of the Israeli abductees in Gaza.
More in Walla!
Israeli Tali Golargant will represent Luxembourg at Eurovision: "Just today my brother left Gaza"
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Israeli singer Tali Goulargant, Luxembourg's representative for Eurovision 2024/Koko Waller
Recently, many voices were heard calling for Israel to be boycotted from the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden, among others from the singer Montaigne, who represented Australia in Eurovision 2021, La Zara, who represented France in Eurovision 2023 and two contestants in the Finnish pre-Eurovision.
In addition, during the pre-Eurovision held in Norway, a protest against Israel was registered by one of the spectators who burst from the audience onto the stage, wrapped herself in the Palestinian flag and wore a shirt that read "Boycott Israel".
The shocked moderators were speechless and did not respond.
After a few seconds she got off the stage and the competition continued as usual.
Last week, the European Broadcasting Union clarified that Israel will participate in Eurovision 2024. After that, the Broadcasting Authority of Iceland, RUV, announced that in light of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza - it will consider its participation in Eurovision.
The announcement stated that the pre-Eurovision contest will be held in the country as planned, but the decision on Iceland's participation in the Eurovision will be made "in consultation with the winner of the pre-Eurovision".
This winner may be the Palestinian singer Bashar Murad, a resident of East Jerusalem, who is expected to compete in the Icelandic pre-Eurovision, and it is not impossible that he will represent his country in the European singing competition.
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Eurovision 2023
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