Dutch broadcaster joins RTE in proposed boycott of Eurovision over Israel
A public broadcaster in the Netherlands has joined Irish channel RTE in a proposed boycott of Eurovision if Israel remains as a participant.
It comes as the BBC faced similar calls from a man who co-wrote one of the UK’s winning entries.
RTE and Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros have announced they will not take part in next year’s contest if Israel is among the participants.
The Irish station said multiple members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the contest, have raised concerns about the participation of Israel.
A spokesperson for Eurovision said it was up to each state to decide if it wanted to take part.
Backing
On Friday, musician and songwriter Phil Coulter said he was “100% behind” RTE’s decision.
Coulter, who co-wrote the UK’s winning 1967 entry, Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw, said there was a “double standard” because Russia and Belarus had previously been expelled from the contest.
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster radio programme, he said: “We can’t normalise what’s going on in Gaza.
“It’s not a question of disapproval, it’s a question of absolute disgust.”
Coulter said he recognised that a song contest was “not going to change the world” but added: “We we musicians, songwriters, performers, are human beings with consciences and with our conscience still very alert.
“I think the only sensible thing and the only decent thing for RTE to do is to withdraw from the contest if Israel is allowed to perform.”
“A question of conscience”
Asked if the BBC should take a similar stand, he added: “I do. I think its a question of conscience.
“I’m quite sure that throughout the United Kingdom, people are equally disgusted by what’s going on in in Gaza.”
On the same programme, Dana, a Eurovision winner for Ireland, said “anyone with a heart would be devastated by the catastrophic situation in Gaza”.
She argued there was a need for a “safe space without political pressure” in which “ordinary people can come together”.
The UK is part of the Big Five at Eurovision which is guaranteed entry into the final of the song contest due to the level of its financial contributions to the EBU.
The BBC declined to comment.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Every act should walk. Nations broadcaster pull the feed. Compares refuse to do it.
Just throw out Israel then the problem is solved
No because some countries like Germany have said they will walk if Israel is expelled. Basically if this carries on and the BBC pulls out it will be game over probably forever.
Anything zion participates in is tainted with the murder of several thousand semitic Palestinian civilians.
Good move by RTE and Avrotros. Let’s pray more will join the boycott. I won’t expect the BBC to join though. They are too worried about the loss of licence fee.
Davie and Gibb at the BBC will be the reason more likely they could fail to yank it (very pro Isreal). Tory party hobbled their ability and Labour continue.
Dana argued there was a need for a “safe space without political pressure” in which “ordinary people can come together”. Eurovision stopped being that “safe space” a long time ago morphing into an ever more weird freak show every year. With all this bickering going on it’s a good chance to dump the whole thing once and for all.
Maybe just dump zion to start with.
Let’s see them kicked out of the World Cup, Olympics, Euros etc… they should be as completely ostracised as apartheid South Africa was.
No-one gives a **** about Eurovision!
True. But, got to start somewhere.