Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna, thousands gathered to protest Israel’s participation. Perhaps the windy, rainy weather discouraged some, and fewer than the 3,000 people who were expected joined the protest under the banner “No stage for genocide,” but the crowd swelled as the march moved forward.
The demonstrators accused the Eurovision organizers of hypocrisy, arguing that Israel is allowed to compete while Russia has been suspended. They waved placards reading “Freedom for Palestine” or “Block Eurovision.”
The Palestinian ambassador to Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, sharply criticized Israel’s participation, calling it “an insult to art, to culture, to music, and to humanity.” He accused Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing. He also targeted Germany for its uncritical stance toward Israel and for seemingly caring more about the fate of a stranded whale there than about dying children in the Gaza Strip.
Critics of Israel’s participation frequently compare it to Russia’s suspension by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which hosts the ESC. Pro-Israel supporters counter that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine cannot be equated with Israel’s response to the Hamas terrorist attack. The Israeli government rejects genocide allegations.
Marcy Ellerton
