A group of 400, actors, musicians, and other entertainment figures, including Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, Juliana Margulies, Sharon Osbourne and Gene Simmons signed an open letter supporting Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Among the signatories of the letter are the musical director Scott Braun, KISS band member Gene Simmons, and many actors including Amy Rossom, Mayim Bialik, Salma Blair, Bret Gelman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Debra Messing, Tom Arnold, Skyler Austin ("Pitch Perfect"), Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), Joshua Malina ("The West Wing"), Emmanuel Shriki ("The Family"), Odia Rash, Oscar-winning director Guy Nativ, musician Diane Warren, and industry leaders such as producer Haim Saban, CEO of Mattel Ynon Kreiz, CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Harvey Mason Jr. (who mentioned the Israeli captives in his Grammy speech), and others. Also signed are Noa Tishby and Noa Kirel, who represented Israel last year and reached a respectable third place.
3 View gallery
Helen Mirren, Boy George, שרון אוסבורן
(צילום: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Joel C Ryan)
Published by the non-profit industry org Creative Community for Peace, the letter backs the decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) - the organizers of the competition - to keep Israel in the contest. The letter mentions that punishing Israel would be an "inversion of justice".
"Israel is fighting a war against a European Union-designated terrorist group that once again broke a ceasefire that day, and then went on to slaughter over 1,200 people," it added. "This current round of fighting is not a war that Israel wanted or started."
The letter also mentions Israel's rich history in the Eurovision Song Contest, noting its four winnings, with the most recent one occurring in 2018. "Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics."
Israel's place in the Eurovision Contest has been challenged by more than 1,000 artists from Sweden and Iceland who said they would decide whether to participate in the competition.
"The pre-Eurovision competition held in the country will be conducted as before, but no decision will be on Iceland's participation before, and after consultation with the winner. The reason is the criticism that has arisen regarding Israel's participation in the contest, despite the war in Gaza," the Icelandic Broadcasting Authority, said.
Read more: