DaysofPal – Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Vienna on Saturday night to protest Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest final, while five countries boycotted the event over Israel’s war on Gaza.
The protests unfolded outside the venue hosting the annual competition in the Austrian capital, where critics accused organizers of applying double standards by refusing to exclude Israel while previously banning Russia following its invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, Eurovision is one of the world’s most watched entertainment events, drawing an estimated 166 million viewers last year. This year’s edition, however, has become the most heavily boycotted contest in the competition’s 70-year history.
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia all withdrew from the contest in protest over Israel’s inclusion, with several national broadcasters also refusing to air the event.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has become one of the most outspoken European critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, defended the boycott position on Friday, saying it placed Spain on “the right side of history.”
Public opposition to Israel’s participation has intensified in recent weeks. Last month, more than 1,000 artists signed an open letter urging fans to boycott Eurovision over Israel’s inclusion. Among the signatories were musicians Macklemore and Paloma Faith, both of whom have publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. Macklemore has also released songs protesting the war.
Earlier this week, Agnès Callamard, secretary-general of Amnesty International, condemned the EBU’s decision to allow Israel to compete.
“The failure of the European Broadcasting Union to suspend Israel from Eurovision, as it did with Russia, is an act of cowardice and an illustration of blatant double standards when it comes to Israel,” Callamard said on Monday.
Outcry Over Blatant Double Standards
Approximately 2,000 demonstrators took part in protests across Vienna on Saturday, accusing Eurovision organizers of helping normalize Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Protesters argued that the competition was making exceptional efforts to justify Israel’s participation while maintaining sanctions against Russia in cultural and sporting arenas.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has faced widespread exclusion from international cultural and sporting events. Russian clubs and national teams remain barred from competitions organized by FIFA and UEFA, including the Champions League and other major tournaments.
The winner of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be determined through a combination of professional jury votes and public televoting.
Austria won last year’s competition, while Israel finished in second place. Following the result, the Israeli government faced accusations of unfairly influencing voting patterns, prompting organizers to introduce new rules for this year’s contest.
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