On Saturday evening Ireland returned to the Grand Final for the very first time in five years. But if the Lord Mayor of Dublin has anything to do with it, the next time we see Ireland at Eurovision will be in 2020.

Micheal Mac Donncha has called for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2019 in Israel in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Mac Donncha, a Sinn Fein politician with close ties to Palestine, made the comment in an interview with Dublin Live.

He said: “I would support [a boycott]…I don’t think we should send a representative.”

Mac Doncha isn’t the only Irish politican in support of a boycott. MEPs Lynn Boylan and Nessa Childers have both shared their support on social media.

Boylan, also of Sinn Fein, shared this tweet:

BDS refers to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a global campaign group which works to advance various forms of boycott against Israel, until it meets what the campaign says are Israel’s “obligations under international law”.

Childers, a member of the Party of European socialists, questioned the rumoured choice of Jerusalem as host city.

If Ireland does boycott, it would be the first year the country fails to participate in the contest since 2002.

Ten countries have already expressed provisional interest in participating in Israel. Israel has hosted the contest twice previously in 1979 and 1999. On both occasions, Jerusalem played host to the contest and Ireland participated on both occasions.

This year Ireland made it to the Grand Final for the first time in five years. It awarded thirteen points to Israel in total. Seven points from the jury and six points from the televoting.

RTE is yet to confirm participation, and a withdrawal seems unlikely in light of qualification this year. The broadcaster has utilised internal selection over the past three years. Prior to that The Late Late Show served as a single night national selection.

YOU CAN GET MORE IRELAND NEWS HERE

Photo: Lord Mayor of Dublin Twitter, AP Photo/Armando Franca

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Joe
Joe
5 years ago

All this makes me sad more than anything. Israel won fair and square. They took the televote and didn’t do badly with the juries either. There was no foul (or should I say fowl) play, no bloc voting, just a well-earned win. And now all of this! I was rooting for Netta by the night of, and I’m sad people are so down on Israel now.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Apparently some folks in Iceland are also trying to get them to withdraw? You know, Iceland, who got their best-ever result with Selma in Jerusalem? And are already confirmed for participation? And who matched their best result with Yohanna in – oh, how about that – Moscow.

They didn’t boycott either of those contests and they shouldn’t boycott now.

Chris
Chris
5 years ago

Bilbo’s comments below are noble and just. Except that Netanyahou is already completely using it as a propaganda tool vis-à-vis the Jerusalem “question” on the global stage. Which will only get louder. In my humble opinion, it should therefore be in Tel Aviv (not that it’s going be…)

Rasmus
Rasmus
5 years ago

Ireland is in Junior Eurovsion in BELARUS thats not known for human rights! So if they boycott Israel they are hypocrites. Dont you think?

Lea
Lea
5 years ago
Reply to  Rasmus

Israel is full of haters. Worse host country ever

Miguel
Miguel
5 years ago
Reply to  Rasmus

Hablamos de cientos de muertos entre niños sanitarios y gente humilde que protesta porque les expolian las tierras, no es comparable, al menos en bielorusia viven

Iris
Iris
5 years ago

BDS yawn. A political group on the fringes that tried to prevent voters from voting for Netta and we all know how that ended up. No news here. They’ll try to sabotage as usual, and as usual they’re ignored except in blogs here that try to make ”new” out of it.

Iris
Iris
5 years ago
Reply to  Iris

Yes, and not boycotted – she was scheduled to perform in Israel, and was under heavy pressure, even bullied – not to. Not all artists can handle this type of pressure. When it comes to bullying – yes, on occasion you will find some people who give in, but as I said – that’s as far as it goes.

Ribb
Ribb
5 years ago

Why do you guys watch this contest and what do you think it is? It’s ironic to just say “let the contest be without politics” while praising songs about immigrants or anti-war these years. As an international event this level, it’s inevitable to have controversies about politics among countries and being used as a sort of propaganda tool sometimes.

Bilbo
Bilbo
5 years ago
Reply to  Ribb

Yes that’s true. It’s time to switch on our brain.

Bilbo
Bilbo
5 years ago

Netta is responsible for the government of Israel, Kristian Kostov for the actions of Putin and Troye Sivan for everything that happens in South Africa.
Find the mistake.
No support for haters.

Error 404
Error 404
5 years ago
Reply to  Bilbo

You conveniently forgot to mention Julia Samoylova. I guess it’s OK to hate as long as it’s on the Russians.

Bilbo
Bilbo
5 years ago
Reply to  Error 404

I mentioned Kristian. You can change his name to Julia if you want.
Do not forget the most important part: No support for haters.

Simon H
Simon H
5 years ago

Apparently minority groups in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and France are calling for their respective countries to boycott next year. I don’t think any country will, or should, boycott, but think it would be better to hold the contest in Tel Aviv with its much better infrastructure

123
123
5 years ago
Reply to  Simon H

minorities meaning muslim immigrants

Gudrun
Gudrun
5 years ago

Oh boy… The contest is going to be even more controversial than the one in 2017.

Kit Kat
Kit Kat
5 years ago

Not tottally agree with you. In Europe almost all countries SEPARATE religion and politics, even if they may talk about their Judeo-Christian heritage/culture. They’re based on their people, not their religion, so different people LIVE TOGETHER.
I had never thought that the religions OWN countries, your comment opens my eyes to what may some people think…

jewish mermaid
jewish mermaid
5 years ago
Reply to  Kit Kat

judism is a both a religion and a nationality, because a state in israel is one of the big parts in the jewish beilef, the entire Torah tells the tale of the road to an israeli state. so yes, saying that Israel shouldn’t exist is anti-semitic. saying that Israel shouldn’t exist is saying the Jewish people shouldn’t have a country, and that’s anti-semitism.

sokeh
sokeh
5 years ago

Eurovision is in Israel
Germany goes to Israel
Name of the music: ” Shower time”

sokeh
sokeh
5 years ago
Reply to  sokeh

hey i didnt write that, it was on youtube. So i guess the comment means what i was suspecting. thanks for clarifying.

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

omg drama already?

corrected
corrected
5 years ago

over 50 dead in Israel today actually, some of the comments here are so uninformed.

Ffs
Ffs
5 years ago

He’s such a VVanker

Denis
Denis
5 years ago

Guys, less politics, more ESC! I get the choice is controversial and that ESC will be politicized but isn’t it always? Let’s at least here talk about ESC. This is beyond politics. Whether you support a two state solution like me and thinks both countries should exist or just one of them or none of them isn’t important for the contest, the song or Netta herself. Neither she nor the contest can bring piece there, nor can Agent Orange. I get it’s a controversial choice but for some that is enough reason to go and bring awareness. This forum is… Read more »

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis
Ella
Ella
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski
sevzch
sevzch
5 years ago
Reply to  Ella

i can show you a simillar map of europe with the same effects dude… war happens and it changes borders nothing new.. i dont see germant complain and shows a map of alzas – loren….

Pool75
Pool75
5 years ago
Reply to  sevzch

Dude, Alsace-Lorraine is French for centuries and was invaded by germans in 1870, that’s all. Historically, it never has been German!

Denis
Denis
5 years ago
Reply to  Ella

Nice to see it had no effect what so ever! Keep it up guys

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago
Reply to  Ella

Gee, its almost as if going to war and losing (and by losing, I mean getting your butt completely handed to you) has negative consequences.

Richard
Richard
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Another statistic for your list.
Israel – 53 people shot dead today.

sevzch
sevzch
5 years ago
Reply to  Richard

people who tried to break the israeli border and harm as many people as they can reach.. #context matters

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Ignoring these politics is stupid. Eurovision is not beyond politics, it is right in the centre of them.

Alon I srael
Alon I srael
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

let James study… i guess he reads books about Israel history written by Hizballah….

's all good
's all good
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Is the nobel prize a marker of being smart? You do know Yasser Arafat was awarded one, as was Cordell Hull (the American guy who turned away a boat with 1000 Jews fleeing the holocaust). Is your case still rested?

Oldboy
Oldboy
5 years ago

I am sure there are dozens of more important things to take care of in Ireland and in Dublin before starting to care about the Eurovision. And that goes for all politicians. Take care of your citizens, do your job first and then comment on topics that will only bring you publicity. It is just a song contest. Politicians must have the courage to take difficult decisions where and when it truely matters, not when it is convenient and free of repercussions.

niamh burke
niamh burke
5 years ago

the lord mayor of dublin? sinn fein politician full of self importance and they love to boycott something or other.
full of principles apparently,

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

lol BEFAN you are awsome!

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

BEFAN kissess from Israel

JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
5 years ago

During Trump’s speech, the president said that the US has “peace as the greatest hope.” “The United States is committed to a permanent peace agreement” in the region, Trump said. “The US will always be a great friend of Israel, and they want peace.

I find it funny that the bible itself, written by Jews in Revelation 13 speaks of the lamb with two horns that was a lamb but spoke like a dragon, in figure of the USA.

Rasmus
Rasmus
5 years ago
Reply to  JEFFERSON

the bible, here? i think you have come to the wrong place.

JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
5 years ago
Reply to  Rasmus

What, you do not believe in God? If you are alive, it is because God allows.

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago

I like my BDS better.

B is for “Build an Embassy in Jerusalem”
D is for “Dude, that’s a nice looking embassy we have in Jerusalem”
S is for “Sorry for everyone who’s butthurt about our new embassy. In Jerusalem.”

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski

Pollaski I LOVE YOU
are you coming to Israel next Year?I’ll keep you a place of honor

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Uh, probably not.
Its a bit pricey to go halfway around the world.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski

Pollaski Too bad

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski

BEFAN
B-Best of luck to Israel hosting Eurovision 2019 in the amazing city OF Jerusalem :
D – Dolls are the most cute toys – and Netta’s TOY is the CUTEST 🙂
S – Sunny Israel is welcoming you all 🙂
BEFAN and Pollaski – how is mine? 🙂

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

I live in the PNW. I don’t like sun.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski

🙂

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

KISSESSSS BEFAN

Phyllis
Phyllis
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski

Butthurt?
Do you know how many died today over this embassy?
They’re more than butthurt.

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago
Reply to  Phyllis

Nobody died over the embassy.

About 50 people died because they tried to attack Israeli positions and lay mines, and used the embassy as an excuse.

But again. We moved an embassy. If that makes you violent, you’re the problem, not us.

Dalth
Dalth
5 years ago

Should be bloody grateful for her”ordeal” probably saved her from that dredded last place . Thought Surie was great but the song was poor. Never mind she will probably be singing again next year for the French bit of belgium.

JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
5 years ago

The main point is that there is no security here. And Israel geographically is not Europe, nor is Australia.

Leo
Leo
5 years ago
Reply to  JEFFERSON

Whatever, Azerbaijan isn’t geographically europe either and was allowed to host and Israel hosted contests too, although it’s never been much safer than now. There is no valid argument not to host there.

YourMan
YourMan
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Erm.. Actually geographically Azerbaijan’s some northern cities are located in Europe, while Israel has no land in European territory. But it doesn’t really matter, Eurovision is all about unity, diversity and friendship. So I am looking forward to the ESC 2019 in Israel. Best of luck. <3

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago
Reply to  JEFFERSON

I thought Israel was a Baltic State. Glad you said that.

2452
2452
5 years ago

the funny part that we all know that in the end Ireland will be there next year, and if you are really thinks otherwise. you are just dumb

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

Great comment ALON! 🙂

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Alon Israel
Like you, I’m sure that the respondents here are from the BDS movement, just like they took over Netta’s instagram page and wished her “Greetings”. I just do not understand why wiwi gives it a hand. Wiwi publishes political articles and feeds the animal, and Wiwi does not erase anti-Semitic and anti-Israel remarks. This blog has become a hate blog. If Wiwi does not block users who sow hatred, there is no point to this blog anymore.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Well Said!! 🙂

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

James: The United Nations decided on the establishment of the State of Israel, in fact most of the countries in the world voted for it .. So it is not right to say that Israel exists only because of the United States.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

ALON ISRAEL lol 🙂 🙂

sevzch
sevzch
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

with the weponry that israel holds…. i dont see israel falling even without the US unless the entire world will attack it which i dont see happening ever

YourMan
YourMan
5 years ago

I knew that ESC 2019 is going to be full of controversies. There we go… 🙂

PS. Trust me, this is just the beginning!! This is going to be one of the most unforgettable ESC editions in the history.

Alon I srael
Alon I srael
5 years ago

how arrogant and ignorants are many people here in this blog…
the most horrible things to humanity happened in your countries and you are speaking about Israel? shame on you! you are soon going to face what we are facing every day…

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Alon I srael

Unfortunately, there are not many Israelis on this blog who can answer all the idiots here who know nothing about Israel and feed only on false media

JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

About Russia it’s all fake media too.

JEFFERSON
JEFFERSON
5 years ago

Israel and USA control this world the way they want it. They speak badly of Russia, but this American Jewish peace policy is going to explode in a war that will destroy the whole world. I am totally against the influence of Israel and the United States of America in the world!

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  JEFFERSON

Good for you antisemitic looser

Frisian esc
5 years ago
Reply to  JEFFERSON

I read both american media and RT out of interest and both are bad with propaganda in their own way.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  JEFFERSON

BEFAN -move to Israel.. u are very good friend of us:)

123
123
5 years ago

bottom line is: It’s really annoying that a country, which is not even in Europe, is using Europe’s 60 something year old competition for their political interest….if they weren’t doing that, they would have organised it in more modern, more peaceful, and more eurovision-friendly Tel Aviv

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  123

this annoying country, as you put it, only brings good to the world. Without this state, it will not be able to use such applications as Wise, Viber, Watsapp, or to use cancer drugs. ? all of the above are israeli inventions- Without ISRAEL, Europe will not be able to obtain the most accurate intelligence information ABOUT terrorist attacks . Do you know how many attacks were prevented in Europe following Israel’s intelligence information? So this is the time to express thanks to Israel for doing only good to the world.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

but Israel Prevented many attacks, from where do you know that israel did not warn about these attacks? Maybe someone did not respond to that. For Facebook, Zuckerberg is Jewish and has a family in Israel. Google was founded by Jews with roots in Israel. So what will you do?

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

But he support Israel..he is one of us jews!! So Boycot him.. boycot also google.
good luck with your old text massages lol

Love Israel the only democracy in the middle east
Love Israel the only democracy in the middle east
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Your comment sound antisemetic and bitter ..Is it possiblle you envy of the jews?
Whatever you say Israel is more smart and secssesful than Ireland will ever be thats a fact!!!!!

Love Israel the only democracy in the middle east
Love Israel the only democracy in the middle east
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Pence Love Tel Aviv..its clear u know nothing.
Dont like obama not becouse he is black..im not racist like your self.Good night .

123
123
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

i didn’t say that the country is annoying, i said that the thing they are doing with eurovision is annoying and all of the stuff that you mentioned above has nothing to do with this specific (and ANNOYING) situation…get it?

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  123

We Israelis do not do anything, it’s not us that mix politics with songs competition … I’m just responding to all the liars and haters of Israel here. I like Netta love my country and will always defend it.

NoGeoblocks
NoGeoblocks
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Now imagine how many more of these attacks you would have had all over Europe without Israeli Intelligence… It would have Eurostan by now. The gays of Europe would not be celebrating in the Lisbon Arena, they would have been thrown off of the rooftops instead,

Mike
Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  123

This country is part of the European Broadcasting Union. And that’s what counts. Israel has already won three times in the Eurovision and has already hosted twice in Jerusalem in the past and everything worked fine

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  123

BEFAN Ii told u .. come and live in Israel 🙂

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

Your analysis is really funny, were you there to understand the situation? Believe me, our army does not want to kill anyone. Apparently our soldiers did not have a choice and they were in mortal danger.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

James I live here .. you dont.. So it’s easy to judge from a distance … especially since the media in Ireland is one-sided and against Israel on a regular basis.
I tell you that I know the Israel Defense Forces, this is the most moral army there is, no one will kill for no reason. Not long ago an Israeli soldier went to jail just because he killed a terrorist after they neutralized the terrorist. Then i suggests that you learn a bit about the Israeli side of the conflict before you judge

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

So what?
If we were not a moral people, we would ignore all this, because he killed a terrorist who wanted to carry out an attack. But we did not give up and the soldier was tried and imprisoned

Alon I srael
Alon I srael
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

Lilia, they are all watching the selective biased news in their countries… they understand nothing…

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

NOT AT ALL
GO AND READ

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

So you support terror against Israelis? its ok for u?
No one has taken from them a state, Israel belongs to the Jewish people from 3000 years ago, there are archaeological findings that prove this clearly. Go and have a little insight before you choose one side

Leo
Leo
5 years ago

Basically no one is boycotting the fifa world cup in Russia, a human rights abusing dictatorship, but now they wabt to boycott the ESC in israel, the only democracy of its entire region? Hypocrisy much?
Don’t get me wrong, it’s absolutely ok to criticize Israel, but it’s that double standard that makes people call antisemitism.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo

I agree.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I agree

Pollaski
Pollaski
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo

The United States is boycotting the world cup in Russia.

…at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Pollaski

lol So funny as usual

Sasha
Sasha
5 years ago

Why can’t you just agree that both groups are killing each other?

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Sasha

AGREE But one group is a declared terrorist organization, and the other is a state. What do you think the United States would do if Mexico were aiming missiles at it? Or what do you think France would have done if a Terorist organization attacked it? Did not France murder terrorists? Why should Israel behave differently?

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

And Mexico did not lose 16 million of its people during the Holocaust

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  LILIA

I happen to be studying law, too, and your legal system is different from ours. This does not mean that your lecturer is telling an absolute truth. I will sleep well tonight knowing that the Israeli army is protecting me from terrorists. Good night to you too.

bob
bob
5 years ago

The winning song can hardly be called music. Its a straight up politicized lie against men for being born. It is the very definition of hate speech but it gets an award because it is from Israel and a feminist bashing men she had never spoke to. This is also clearly a lesbian. Why is she talking being a toy for men? She does not date men and I promise you, men do not date her.

bob
bob
5 years ago

Mean while, the exact same people are flooding into parts of Europe and Western nations but they are told they are racist if they don’t accept them in full…. yeeeeea… guess who runs most of the publications, Israel. Fancy that. Lets ask them why they are booting out 40,000 African immigrants that already live in Israel.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Erm… I don’t know how public broadcasting works in Ireland but I heavily doubt that an MP is supposed to influence the content put on the air. We shouldn’t forget that Eurovision is a television programme after all.

Russel
Russel
5 years ago

And the rest of us will be sooo upset if Ireland doesn’t make it to Jerusalem.
They will probably cancel the Eurovision out of sadness.
Btw Conor, You know that there is Israeli technology in your computer / smartphone / whatever you are using to type all these negative comments about Israel.

Frisian esc
5 years ago

Maybe they should follow zibbz example and stop throwing stones?

Leo M
Leo M
5 years ago

I’m sure he won’t be the last to suggest pulling out particularly with today’s events. I won’t be surprised if it is not actually held in Israel next year due to safety concerns. Time will tell

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo M

No one will pull out
The European Union has given a statement that Israel has the right to defend itself

Door
Door
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo M

You can count on Israel’s security forces to successfully secure the event, wherever it’ll be in Israel

Alon I srael
Alon I srael
5 years ago
Reply to  Leo M

yes… it’s much safer in paris and london or any other arab countries in europe such as sweden…

LILIA
LILIA
5 years ago

#ISRAELIsNotYourToy
#ISRAELNotYourToy
#ISRAELNotYourToy
#ISRAELNotYourToy
#israelNotYourToy
…………..

Nicolas
Nicolas
5 years ago

One less boring ballad in 2019. Who cares.

Gili
Gili
5 years ago

S he said so what? who counts him? The justice and truth are with israel, united states knows it already thats
why they support israel so hard and just moved their embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem…truth will always win at the end

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Just saying, Israel got 6 points from the Irish televote and 7 from the Irish jury. It’d be hypocritical for them to pull out when they were partially responsible for Israel’s victory. Ireland also competed in both 1979 and 1999 – they even came 5th in ‘79. If they didn’t bat an eye about participating in Moscow or Baku, Jerusalem once again shouldn’t be the exception. Ultimately, I don’t think they would (making it to the final seems to have reawoken the old Irish Eurovision patriotism), but I do have a feeling that we aren’t getting the full line-up next… Read more »

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Though I will say that there have only been three times where the country itself was the reason for not participating: Austria didn’t compete in Madrid to protest the Franco regime (although, similar to Ireland here, they gave points to Spain), Turkey and Yugoslavia didn’t compete in Jerusalem the first time due to political pressure (all of the countries who sat out the contest in ‘99 did so due to relegation, not politics), and Armenia didn’t compete in Baku because of that whole mess. Heck, even in Moscow, the two withdrawals were for a political song (Georgia) and poor results… Read more »

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

(In case you’re wondering, I didn’t count Russia withdrawing last year because technically, they WOULD have competed, they just COULDN’T).

FTATIPB
FTATIPB
5 years ago

Agree

sevzch
sevzch
5 years ago

Ok so plz tell me what would those palestinans do the moment they pass the border to israel in those clashes? give a hug to the soldiers and both will go to a bar to drink?….. be realistic..

Truth Teller
Truth Teller
5 years ago

Just btw, is anyone else frightened by the picture of this mayor dude? Certain holier-than-thou Irish Catholic priests come to mind…

r u crazy
r u crazy
5 years ago

who the hell don’t want to go to Israel next year, are you crazy?? Gal Gadot will probably be there

hhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhh
5 years ago

who the f cares lol, im promise you all that Ireland will be in Israel next year, those politicians just love to talk