The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May in Austria, is once again marked by the participation of Israel, which is contested because of the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

On 21 April, an open letter calling for a boycott of the contest due to Israel's participation, signed by more than 1,100 musicians, bands and other cultural professionals from various countries, including Portuguese artists, some of whom have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in previous years, was released.

Portuguese subscribers

The long list of subscribers includes the Portuguese Carlos Mendes, Calcutá, Ana Deus, Cláudia Pascoal, Cristina Branco, Fado Bicha, Filipe Sambado, Francisca Cortesão, Hause Plantes, Hetta, Iolanda, Janeiro, Joana Gama, Jorge Palma, Júlio Resende, Linda Martini, Luca Argel, Mayra Andrade, Pedro Melo Alves, Raquel Martins, Scúru Fitchádu, Selma Uamusse, Stereossauro, Sónia Trópicos, The Legendary Tigerman and Xullaji.

International signatories

Signatories also include Black Country New Road, Brendan Perry (of Dead Can Dance), Brian Eno, Chester Hansen (BADBADNOTGOOD), Dry Cleaning, Erika de Casier, Gus Gus, Henka, Hot Chip, IDLES, Julia Rigby, Kneecap, Macklemore, Massive Attack, Mogwai, Of Monsters And Men, Peter Gabriel, Primal Scream, and Sigur Rós.

Celebration on stage

Signatories say that “for the third consecutive year, the millions of people expected to watch the contest will see Israel celebrated on stage, despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza, while Russia remains banned for its illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

“As musicians and cultural professionals, many of whom reside in the area of ​​influence of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) [which organises the contest], we reject the use of the Eurovision Song Contest to whitewash and normalise Israel’s genocide, siege, and brutal military occupation of Palestinians,” reads the open letter, available online and open for more signatures.

The signatories express their “solidarity with the Palestinian appeals” made to public broadcasters in the various participating countries, artists, technical teams, and fans to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest, “until the EBU bans the complicit Israeli broadcaster KAN.”

Fewer participants

This year, 35 countries will compete in Eurovision, following withdrawals by Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland due to Israel’s participation in the contest, and the return of Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova after three, two, and one year of absence, respectively.

The open letter "applauds the withdrawals, as a matter of principle, of the broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands, and the many finalists from the national selection processes, who have committed to refusing to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest," should they be chosen.

Exclusion of Israel

The call for the exclusion of Israel is due to the military attacks by that country in the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, in the last two and a half years, which killed at least 67,000 people and were classified as genocide by an independent international commission of inquiry of the United Nations.

Rejection of the boycott

Last week, on 15 April, another open letter was released regarding Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, signed by more than a thousand "celebrities and entertainment industry professionals, who reject attempts to ban Israel from Eurovision."

The list of signatories to the letter, promoted by the non-profit entertainment industry organisation Creative Community for Peace, includes actresses such as the Portuguese Daniela Ruah, Amy Schumer, Mila Kunis, Helen Mirren, Julianna Margulies, Debra Messing, Emmy Rossum, Selma Blair and Mayim Bialik, actors such as Jerry O’Connell, Joshua Malina, Liev Schreiber, the writer Erin Foster, musicians Gene Simmons (of Kiss), Matisyahu and Boy George, basketball player Anthony Edwards or businessman Scooter Braun.

The letter, available online, highlights the “unique ability of the Eurovision Song Contest to unite pieces from diverse backgrounds”, as well as “the power of music to promote positive change in the world”.

The signatories argue that the contest, “which has more viewers than the Super Bowl”, the final of the American national football championship, “is a celebration of unity and should not be used as a political instrument”.

Eurovision Song Contest

The semi-finals of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest are scheduled for 12 and 14 May, and the final for 16 May. Portugal, represented this year by Bandidos do Cante with the theme "Rosa", performs in the first semi-final.