Ireland asks for discussion on Israel’s inclusion

Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Its director general, Kevin Bakhurst, said he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”.

Earlier, the director of the Eurovision Song Contest said no participating EBU member had publicly opposed Israeli broadcaster Kan’s participation.

The contest, which is hosted by the EBU, will begin on 13 May in Switzerland with the final on 17 May.

Mr Bakhurst said RTÉ wanted a discussion “notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating” is membership of EBU.

He added that he was mindful of RTÉ’s obligations to maintain objectivity in covering the war in Gaza.

“We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israel’s public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government,” he said.

On Tuesday, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants, including Ireland’s 1994 winner Charlie McGettigan, signed a letter urging organisers to ban Israel and Kan from the event.

Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at RTÉ had also called on the broadcaster to oppose Israel’s participation in a letter.

Speaking on Wednesday to BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme, Emma O’Kelly of the NUJ said she welcomed Mr Bakhurt’s statement and that it was important to take a stand.

“We believe this is RTÉ listening to its staff, but more importantly, listening to public sentiment here in Ireland, which is just outrage at Israel’s actions in Gaza,” she said.

“We collectively — the NUJ and RTÉ — don’t believe Israel should be afforded what is a massive cultural platform.”

“The Eurovision is literally the international stage,” she added.

“We don’t believe that the EBU should be giving a country such as this a platform.”

Ms O’Kelly said this move is “only about Israel’s actions in Gaza” and added that there is “precedent for this”, citing Russia being unable to participate in the competition from 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement, Eurovision director Martin Green said: “No participating EBU member broadcaster, who have all been widely consulted, has ‘publicly opposed’ Israeli broadcaster Kan’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest – despite the claims in another letter from RTÉ journalists.

“The broadcasters mentioned in the letter, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, requested a discussion and RÚV in Iceland has informed us of their foreign minister’s comments on Kan’s participation.”

Mr Green said the organisers of the song contest “understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East”.

He said EBU was not “immune to global events” but members together should endure the event remains a ” universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music”.

Israel is to be represented in the contest by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

She was at the Nova musical festival when Hamas attacked and killed 360 young partygoers and took 40 more hostage.

At least 52,615 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 2,507 since the Israeli offensive resumed, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

There were several campaigns to block Israel from taking part in the Eurovision song contest last year, but the EBU ruled Israel was allowed to compete.

Representing Israel last year, Eden Golan was booed whilst performing at a dress rehearsal for the competition, which took place in Malmo, Sweden and confined to her hotel room when she wasn’t performing, due to threats of harm to the Israeli delegation.

She placed fifth in the competition with her entry Hurricane.

The grand final of the this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday 17 May.

The semi-finals taking place on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May.

Thirty-seven countries will take part, with 10 winning through from each semi-final.

Five countries – the UK, Spain, Germany, France and Italy are guaranteed places in the grand final, as is the host Switzerland.