The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) released an unusual statement Tuesday evening on its website and on social media in light of the ongoing war in Israel and Gaza and Israel's participation in the Eurovision international song contest.
"The European Broadcasting Union acknowledges the depth of feeling and the strong opinions that this year's Eurovision Song Contest - set against the backdrop of a terrible war in the Middle East - has provoked," the statement reads. "We understand that people will want to engage in debate and express their deeply held views on this matter. We have all been affected by the images, stories and the unquestionable pain suffered by those in Israel and in Gaza."
"However, we wish to address the concerns and discussions surrounding this situation, especially the targeted social media campaigns against some of our participating artists. The decision to include any broadcaster, including the Israeli’ broadcaster Kan, in the Eurovision Song Contest is the sole responsibility of the EBU’s governing bodies and not that of the individual artists. These artists come to Eurovision to share their music, culture and the universal message of unity through the language of music.
"The EBU has previously explained the reasoning for the inclusion of KAN and the differences between them as an independent broadcaster and previous participants who were excluded. Constructive debate is a positive consequence of such decisions. However, while we strongly support freedom of speech and the right to express opinions in a democratic society, we firmly oppose any form of online abuse, hate speech, or harassment directed at our artists or any individuals associated with the contest. This is unacceptable and totally unfair, given the artists have no role in this decision.
"The EBU is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all participants, staff, and fans of the Eurovision Song Contest. We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to promote the values of respect, inclusivity, and understanding, both online and offline. We urge everyone to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue and support the artists who are working tirelessly - on what is a music and entertainment show - to share their music with the world," the EBU statement concluded.
Over the past few weeks and months, a series of disputes have surfaced surrounding Israel's involvement in this year's Eurovision song contest. The initial spark was fueled by global attempts to prevent Israel from participating in the event, given the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This included a stern warning from Iceland that it would pull out of the competition should Israel join, which was countered by a host of artists advocating for Israel's right to participate.
In a subsequent development, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) put on hold the approval of the Israeli song, alleging it contained "political messages." This situation escalated to the point where even the country's president, Isaac Herzog, had to intervene to defuse the tension. Ultimately, the original Israeli song, "October Rain," was swapped with a fresh track titled "Hurricane." This new selection is set to be performed by Israel's representative, Eden Golan, in the contest scheduled to start on May 7 in Malmo.