SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:
The world's biggest singing competition, Eurovision, has become a political flashpoint. The reason is Israel's participation. Itay Stern explains why.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MICHELLE")
NOAM BETTAN: (Singing) Michelle, Michelle, Michelle.
ITAY STERN, BYLINE: This is "Michelle," the song that Israel submitted for this year's Eurovision Song Contest. It's performed by Israeli singer Noam Bettan. The upbeat track, sung in French, English and Hebrew, contains no political message, but Israel's very participation has once again sparked political controversy.
Spain, one of the contest's longest standing participants, announced it would withdraw and not broadcast the competition for the first time in its history. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier this year that just as Russia was expelled after its invasion of Ukraine, Israel should also be removed.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ: (Non-English language spoken).
STERN: "Spain's commitment to international legality and human rights must be constant and consistent, including in Europe," the Spanish prime minister said during an event in Madrid.
The Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland also announced they would not take part in the competition this year, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. As a result, only 35 countries are competing this year, the lowest number in more than a decade. The criticism hasn't just come from governments and public broadcasters. Nearly 1,000 international artists signed a petition titled No Music for Genocide, calling for Israel's exclusion from the contest.
The Swiss singer Nemo, who won Eurovision in 2024, even released a video returning the trophy to the European Broadcasting Union.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
NEMO: Eurovision says it stands for unity, for inclusion and dignity for all people. But Israel's continued participation shows there's a clear conflict between those ideals.
STERN: The Israeli government denies it committed genocide in Gaza, saying it was fighting Hamas after it attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite the controversy, Israel has performed strongly in recent years in the contest.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "NEW DAY WILL RISE")
YUVAL RAPHAEL: (Singing) New day will rise. Life will go on. Everyone cries. Don't cry alone. Darkness will fade.
STERN: Last year's Israeli song was sung by a survivor of the Hamas attack. It won second place in the competition. Broadcasters accused Israel of trying to manipulate the public vote, and Eurovision changed its voting rules for this year. This year, Israel is currently ranked around sixth in betting odds to win the competition. Yoav Tzafir, head of the Israeli delegation, says the withdrawals have affected the mood in Vienna.
YOAV TZAFIR: The feeling in here is not optimistic too much because five countries chooses to boycott the competition because of Israel participation.
STERN: Tzafir rejects comparisons to Russia's expulsion and denies accusations made by European broadcasters that Israel manipulated the public vote in last year's contest.
TZAFIR: We are not Russia. It's not the same case. We've been attacked on 7 October. And Kan, the broadcaster, didn't break any rule. Our delegation didn't break any rule, so there's no case for dismissing us.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: (Chanting) End the occupation.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting) End the occupation.
STERN: In the past two years, large pro-Palestinian protests have taken place outside Eurovision venues. Vienna police say this year, they are preparing for protests and will deploy increased security around the event.
Despite the backlash, Eurovision remains a major cultural event in Israel, and it's unclear whether the withdrawal of five countries will affect the outcome or leave the controversy outside the world's most watched music competition. For NPR News, I'm Itay Stern in Tel Aviv. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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