We’ve had protests.
We’ve had threats of a boycotts. And in recent days we’ve even had a protest about proposed boycotts.
But now, Netta Barziliai – incumbent Eurovision champion – has spoken out about calls for a boycott for a second time.
The “Toy” singer argues that calls for a boycott are not in line with the values of Eurovision:
“Being on the same stage no matter what your religion is, your ethnicity, your colour, from all these countries, all these cultures combined together, this is a festival of light,” She told several international news outlets in Jerusalem.
“For people to boycott light is spreading darkness, is doing the exact opposite thing, and that’s why I think they might be going against their own beliefs.”
There have been calls from artists such as Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and British singer Peter Gabriel to move the competition to another country. Waters also called on Madonna to cancel plans to perform at Eurovision.
Protests have taken place across Europe, but no country has withdrawn from Eurovision as part of boycott efforts.
This is not the first time Netta has commented about these protests.
She first spoke out in February, when she commented on the events occurring over the month in different national finals:
“I believe in a protest, it’s ok, I don’t believe in boycotting. Eurovision is a European contest, it’s not Israel, it’s a world-wide thing. We are taking part. I encourage other people to come and take part.”
Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the contest has expressed support over its’ non-political nature:
“We do not want Eurovision to be used as a platform for any political aims. We want people to come to Israel and enjoy – that’s it. There is nothing I can do about people’s perception of Israel. Whatever they think about Israel is their own opinion. However, the EBU is an organisation with clear policies — no politics of any kind is allowed.”
Netta will perform during the live shows in Tel Aviv later this month.
Read more Israel news here
Comments on this post are now closed.
Hopefully the next time Israel wins ESC, there will be no need for people to call for a boycott.
I’ll boycott all these boycotts
*uno reverse card*
Nice throwback, Jimothy!
Björk wants her look back…
Netta is absolutely right. Eurovision is all about music, celebration and friendship
It’s irrelevant to this article but I read that katerine (Greece) will have in stage a tableau vivant that will be double sided made from someone who worked for lady Gaga too and the staging in general will be like the videoclip and will remind a rennaisance painting of Bosch
Very interesting. I am sure she’ll have a great staging.
They write “process” in the subtitles but she seems to be saying “protest” — which one is it? Cause I doubt Netta supports protesting in the stadium for example during the show.
To me it sounds like she says ‘process’, and it also fits contextually, e.g. peace process.
When you boycott darkness you spread light
She‘s absolutely right!
Depends on your definition of “light”… Calls for boycott are not aimed at Eurovision but at Israel, whose occupation of foreign territories and illegal policy of settlement leave no hope for peace and have been condemned over and over by dozens of resolutions and countries around the world. This is what calls for boycott are denouncing. It’s also a little too easy and irresponsible for ESC fans to just say “Eurovision is about music, so let’s just party and not focus on the rest”, when there’s literally a major conflict going on right outside the venue. I personally won’t watch… Read more »
Wanna see when the eurofans will boo Israel, as they did with Russia, right?
If israel has foreign territories, then what are the domestic territories according to you? The present day country got formed in 1948 after all. Israel could’ve had the whole sinai peninsula after the six day war in the 60’s but they voluntarily gave it back to egypt even after Israel had won the war… Do you mean east jerusalem and the golan heights? Because those are places with a long jewish history. This world has more than 40 islamic countries and over 30 christian countries, but there is only one country where jews can live in peace… And it’s a… Read more »
So because you consider that a place has a long “Jewish history”, you consider that you have the right to occupy it? 1) This is illegal according to international law and has been condemned by the international community for decades. 2) Do you realize that if all countries were behaving like this, we would all live in a perpetual state of world war? This is why I said that this behavior leaves no peace for hope, literally none, and this is why you have calls for boycott.
Yes
“Jewish history” attached to a “place”, that is a fact, not something that is “considered”. There have been attempts to get Jewish people out, but without success.
Don’t even try: I’m not denying any country’s right to exist and I certainly did not say that Israel was the only one to blame. There are 2 parties in a conflict, but I’m glad you acknowledge Israel’s aggressor role. None of the proposed solutions had any chance of being accepted by the other party cause these plans were not compromising, and you know it (same way as Israel is refusing their proposed solutions). This is my last answer as I will not let myself get trapped in a one-way dialogue, but I will NOT buy that narrative that “It’s… Read more »
“It’s Eurovision, let’s all hold hands and sing kumbaya, love love peace peace”.
We should do EXACTLY that…cause Eurovision has nothing to do with what you are blabbering about. Stop acting as if Eurovision is being organized in Tel Aviv in support of wars and conflict…It’s organized there ONLY because they WON the contest. end of story. we don’t care about fake virtue signalers like you…find a job or something else to do with your life.
Just a question: who exactly should “find a job and something to do with their life”? All of us, or just the ones you don’t agree with? Cause in case you haven’t noticed, you’re posting comments on this website just like Bella.
Good luck in you job search!
the point just flew over your head, didn’t it?
Hi bella! I have a very uncomfortable question for you:
Are you aware you live on native american land?
Great reply, Indra.
If you’re making a parallel between (1) the bloody invasion of native land that lead to the creation of the US and the massacre of native tribes, and (2) the creation of Israel and occupation of foreign land… You shed light on very interesting similarities, but you might upset a lot of Israelis on this forum. 😉
Hehehe, you think Israelis would be “upset”? They are strong people. And you don’t get history right. Do you take your bias against Israel outside Eurovision as well? Or just this once because the contest is held in Israel?
I know it won’t fit into your narrative, but I have no bias. Hard to believe, but people can disagree with governmental action and policies without having anything against the people themselves. Of course that would require you to admit that’s there’s relevant ground for criticism and actually think through it, which is probably why you prefer your own “bias” scenario. *Sight* Upset is a human emotion, Israelis get upset just like all other human beings on this planet. You are obviously upset right now (wherever you’re from), which was not my intent and I’m sorry about that. I wish… Read more »
I don’t have bias or”opinions”. I have knowledge of historical, political and social facts.
once you boycott or sanction, you might be protesting the government, but you’re actually hurting the people.
The problem here is the calls for boycott, but mostly the people who are behind it. They do not care about lives on either side, they just want to see Israel gone.
Don’t spread the dark.
“the bloody invasion of native land that lead to the creation of the US and the massacre of native tribes”
What a twisted, self-loathing view of history…lol
Netta is 100% right.
so sad to know that roger waters is living in the dark, spreading hate against israel while he knows nothing about the conflict.
i though he was a smart person but apparently he isn’t…well, pink floyd is out of my play list unless david gilmour writing is singing the songs(:
“Well, pink floyd is out of my play list”… Resorting to boycott and spreading hate against Pink Floyd? Netta would not agree with that. 😉
How can you listen to music done by someone who says such awful things about israel? Believe me, netta will also not put any of his songs in her play list….
Love her. And her favourite this year is …..Spain .loooove it
I hope she will give him a crystal microphone.
First comment!!!!! Yayyyyyy