The Eurovision Song Contest organizers have rejected calls to ban Israel over the Gaza war, emphasizing the event's non-political nature. Celebrities have rallied for Israel's inclusion, denouncing efforts to exclude it. Despite controversy, Israel is allowed to compete in this year's Eurovision, contrasting with Russia's exclusion after invading Ukraine.
NEW: Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has unleashed a tidal wave of controversy Competing countries and Eurovision fans made their feelings in the matter known... ๐ - https://t.co/QiEcSWITcP https://t.co/mX2kkdjY0j
#Israel can compete in this yearโs #Eurovision Song Contest, organizers say, despite calls for it to be excluded over the #Gaza war like Russia was after invading Ukraine. https://t.co/8iW6XPfOiq
It is in response to a group of Icelandic musicians who led calls for Israelโs entry to be excluded due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East: https://t.co/fPwPL1oKL8 https://t.co/gQ6VWdy9EA
Celebrities rally for Israel's inclusion in @Eurovision, condemn calls for ban 'This call for Israel's exclusion has recieved significant backlash across creative industries... This is another sign of people trying to delegitimize Israel on the world stage,' says @JoshRomOnAir https://t.co/9i01qyhtNU
The show must go on! ๐ ๐ค ๐ฎ๐ฑ #Eurovision rejects call to ban #Israel over Gaza war, saying: "The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments." https://t.co/010gqGjrR0