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More than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter urging organizers to ban Israel and its national broadcaster, KAN, from this year’s contest, citing the ongoing war on Gaza and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
The letter, addressed to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), comes just days ahead of the competition and accuses Israel of committing “genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.”
Among the 72 signatories are former Eurovision winners Charlie McGettigan, Salvador Sobral, and Fernando Tordo, as well as British singer Mae Muller, French artist La Zarra, and Turkish performer Hadise Açıkgöz. Several participants from last year’s edition, including Ásdís María and Norwegian band GÅTE, also added their names.
“By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,” the letter states, comparing Israel’s inclusion to Russia’s exclusion from the 2022 contest following the invasion of Ukraine and accusing the EBU of a “double standard.”
“We urge the EBU and all its member broadcasters to act now and prevent further discredit and disruption to the festival: Israel must be excluded from Eurovision,” the letter concludes.
The post Former Eurovision contestants calls for Israel's ban over war on Gaza appeared first on HESPRESS English – Morocco News.