Former Eurovision stars demand Israel ban

A coalition of over 70 former Eurovision Song Contest participants has signed an open letter urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel and its national broadcaster, KAN, from the 2025 competition. The letter, organised by Artists for Palestine UK, accuses KAN of complicity in alleged war crimes in Gaza and criticises the EBU for permitting Israel’s participation despite ongoing conflicts.

Signatories of the letter include notable Eurovision alumni such as Salvador Sobral (Portugal, 2017 winner), Charlie McGettigan (Ireland, 1994 winner), Daði Freyr (Iceland, 2021), Gåte (Norway, 2024), La Zarra (France, 2023), and Mae Muller (UK, 2023). The artists argue that allowing Israel to compete undermines the contest’s integrity and contradicts previous actions taken by the EBU, such as the exclusion of Russia in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

Unifying power

The letter states: “We believe in the unifying power of music, which is why we refuse to allow music to be used as a tool to whitewash crimes against humanity.” It further criticises the EBU’s handling of the 2024 contest, describing it as “the most politicised, chaotic, and unpleasant in the competition’s history.”

This call for exclusion adds to the growing international debate over Israel’s participation in cultural events amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Irish voices

Today, Irish broadcaster, RTE, added its voice to demands the EBU consider the issue again. RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst added that he was “appalled” by ongoing events in the Middle East. The development came after members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at RTE called on the broadcaster to follow the lead of some other European public service stations by formally opposing Israel’s participation.

As the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest approaches, the EBU faces increasing pressure to address these concerns and uphold the contest’s commitment to neutrality and inclusivity.

For more information and to read the full letter, visit Artists for Palestine UK.