Speculation continues to teeter between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as potential host cities of Eurovision 2019. And now Israeli minister of culture Mrs Miri Regev, who has tirelessly argued on behalf of Jerusalem, has said the contest can take place in the city — despite furore over breaking Shabbat.
Speaking to Ynet, she made it clear that the state will not accept ultra Orthodox demands to avoid rehearsals on Shabbat should Jerusalem host Eurovision 2019. She said:
“The Israeli public broadcasting corporation [aka IPBA], who is discussing this issue with the EBU, hasn’t decided yet where Eurovision will take place, and therefore this question is irrelevant.”
“However, I can only assume that once this is decided [and Jerusalem becomes host] then rehearsals will take place on Saturday and we will need to explain this to the religious parties and to say that this is not at our discretion.”
“Eurovision always takes place on Saturday, this was also the case when Jerusalem hosted and we will have to come to an agreement with the religious parties on this matter”.
She stressed that Eurovision is not in jeopardy and pointed out that there will be “no constructions during Shabbat, only rehearsals”.
But Knesset Member Mr Μichael Malkiel, from SHAS (an Ultra Orthodox party), said in response that Regev is expected to avoid violation of the Shabbat.
“We want this to be without violating the Shabbat so that all preparations will take place on Thursday and only after the end of the holy day (Saturday at sunset – IL), the gates will be opened”.
Tel Aviv offers night life & lots of beachs. Fans will enjoy it much more. Jerusalem has it’s charm …but…LOOK AT THE BEACHES of TLV. …..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu0Z0I1ucWs&t=124s
that dosent matter to the family who are watching at home.
Jerusalem 2019 I’m Excited <3
same it will be great!
Where was the concern for Shabbat when Jerusalem hosted in 79 and 99? Was it not an issue back then?
Enough drama, people are already fed up with it!
https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/music/eurovision2018/.premium-1.6082942 If you can’t read Hebrew I’ll help. In short the article says that the orthodox community started a huge sh!t storm over the shabbat issue in the very last moment, short time before the contest. The “solution” was: no rehearsals took place during Friday or Saturday. The dress rehearsal that was supposed to be recorded and act as a backup footage, did not take place. Now imagine that happens next year. There is a jury final, there are much more rehearsals needed. The show today is way more complicated technically than in 1999. It is absolutely impossible to do… Read more »
Naaaaah… another drama? I’m kind of getting sick and tired. Tel-Aviv once and for all!!! 😉
It is much easier to dismiss the demand to honour the shabbat in Tel Aviv than in Jerusalem. The orthodox community know very well that Tel Aviv is out of their range of influence. They will still try to influence but it will end up with nothing.
Just like the pride parade. In Tel Aviv the Orthodox have sort of given up, and just let people do whatever they want. In Jerusalem, there is still a struggle to have a parade, every year. Jerusalem is the Holy City, but Tel Aviv was founded to be a modern, ” Hebrew” city. So they have very different histories and emotions attached to them
Aren’t they supposed to announce the city by September? They have about a week to decide.
They are not the once who decide anything. They just present the options and the EBU makes the final choice. If they really wanted Jerusalem to host, they were supposed to reassure the EBU from the beginning that rehearsals on shabbat are not an issue at all. Instead they hesitated, and basically by that eliminated Jerusalem as an option.
From what I’ve read, even forgetting holy reasons, Jeresuelm can’t host next year because the team that occupy their only arena are unwilling to move out. I’ve never been to Israel myself but I think they should go for Tel Aviv (I don’t mind that Pavilion 2 will be smaller tag. normal)
Tel Aviv is ten times more “modern” than Jerusalem, it’s just the ideal city for Eurovision.
with no proper venue?
I don’t really get why you’re so keen on the contest being held in jerusalem. TLV has a proper venue : the Pavillion 2 at the Tel Aviv Fair Grounds, and is, for me, the most MODERN city of Israel. Why would you want Eurovision to be hosted in a city such as Jerusalem ? Are you even Israeli ?
So, the national selection program is moving faster than organizing the contest itself … Uh … When is there someone who is worried about the delay?
it’s not “moving faster”, they just announced they’re staying with the same selection system. The preparations for the ESC are obviously still behind closed doors, it’s not like we already had mock-ups of the stage, logo and hosts as soon as August in any of the previous years. They’re taking their time announcing the host city (I have a feeling it was already selected, but they’re just waiting with the announcement) but other than that preparations have definitely started.
Although tel Aviv is a better city, they have no venue and Jerusalem does so I’m now in favour of Jerusalem!
Liar!
Just recently they were angry because a bridge was planned to be built on Shabbat and she was supporting the decision to freeze the building of the bridge.
If we can’t even build bridges on Shabbat, how will we be able to host Eurovision on Shabbat?
Don’t listen to her, simply don’t.
With public opinion having shifted sharply toward Tel Aviv, it seems this is her last-ditch effort to save face.
And besides, Nadav has a city to show us! 🙂
On the other hand not every sentence that was thrown into the air should make a headline at Wiwibloggs.
The Israeli politicians are laud and almost everything they say is for publicity rather than honest statements.
I suggest Wiwibloggs to tune down the statements done by the ruling party and publish only official statements made by KAN and the EBU. everything else is just a publicity stunt done by the politicians to promote their own agenda.
True yet Miri Regev is a part of the ruling party :\
At that point Miri Regev has the same influence on Eurovision as you do. So her statement is absolutely pointless.
Nope Nope Nope in Tel Aviv it must be
Just do it in Tel Aviv ffs
Israeli fans: should I be optimistic about Tel Aviv or not?
I think it’s a 50-50 chance.
i am positive that it will be in Tel-Aviv!
I realize that Tel Aviv is by far and away the best choice, but a small part of me likes the idea of history repeating itself (’79,’ ’99, ’19)…
The very fact that Israel’s hosting in 2019 is history repeating itself. Maybe if they host in Tel Aviv for 2039 it’ll all even out.