Reigning Eurovision champion Nemo has backed calls for Israel to be excluded from the song contest.
During their winner’s press conference in 2024, the star cited that “Eurovision needs fixing a little bit” following the highly controversial events amid Israel’s participation.
Now, as the Swiss star gets ready to hand over the crown, they have spoken up more candidly about how the contest seemingly remains broken.
Nemo backs calls for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision
During an interview with the HuffPost UK, “The Code” hitmaker was asked whether they had an opinion on Israel’s ongoing presence at Eurovision:
“Yeah, I do. I personally feel like it doesn’t make sense that Israel is a part of this Eurovision. And of Eurovision in general right now.
“I don’t know how much I want to get into detail, but I would say, I don’t support the fact that Israel is part of Eurovision at the moment.”
Nemo later supplied the website with an additional statement:
“I support the call for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest.
“Israel’s actions are fundamentally at odds with the values that Eurovision claims to uphold — peace, unity, and respect for human rights.”
The singer’s comments match those of more than 70 other past Eurovision participants who signed an open letter to Eurovision organisers at the EBU. The signatories from 12 different countries accuse Israeli broadcaster Kan of being “complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza”. The artists note that “by continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes”.
There have been repeated calls from musicians, fans, unions, human rights activists, and other notable figures for Israel’s removal from Eurovision since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. The conflict has seen more than 52,000 people killed in Gaza, with multiple international organisations accusing Israel of committing war crimes and acts of genocide.
The war began when Hamas carried out an attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Despite excluding Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, the EBU has consistently shut down all suggestions for it to do the same to Israel. They state that the event is a competition between public broadcasters rather than governments, noting the contest must remain apolitical.
Newly appointed Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Green, recently responded to some of these calls for Israel’s exclusion. He stated:
“[We] understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East. It is not our role to make comparisons between conflicts.
“The EBU is not immune to global events, but, together, with our members, it is our role to ensure the contest remains, at its heart, a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music. We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.
“The EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments, who are all eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the requisite requirements. The EBU is supporting our Israeli Member Kan against the threat from being privatised or shut down by the Israeli government.
“The EBU remains aligned with other international organisations that have similarly maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.”
The broadcasters of four participating countries in Eurovision — Slovenia, Spain, Iceland and Ireland — have called on the EBU to facilitate an open debate between its members on Israel’s participation at the contest.
Many acts who have competed at Eurovision in the last two years have received messages asking them to boycott the event over Israel’s participation.
Amongst their ongoing support for Palestine, Nemo commented in the interview with HuffPost UK that they were still determined to appear at the contest since “The Code” was such a personal story:
“It was very much just me realising that this story is important to tell. And if I’m not there to tell it, and to say it, then no one else will.
“I think I could have not gone through all of that if I was just singing kind of a song that was a cute song, and I would feel happy singing it. I needed this sense of direction and purpose, and that was what never made me even question being there.”
“And that’s how it feels for me this year, as well.”
Pride flag ban is “stupid as f*ck”
The new flag policy for Eurovision contestants has raised many an eyebrow. Although audience members are able to wave any flag that is permitted under Swiss law, those who appear on stage have been restricted to their country’s flag only.
This effectively bans Pride flags from the Eurovision stage and green room, where many contestants over recent years had proudly shown their support for the LGBTQ+ community — including Nemo, who is non-binary, and showcased the non-binary flag during the Eurovision 2024 flag parade.
Nemo called the move “stupid as f*ck,” stating:
“That’s so dumb. I don’t get it. It’s so random sometimes. I just feel like… why? You know what I mean?
“You can’t be known for like the queerest thing in the world, basically, a contest that has been associated with queerness and gay culture for so long, and then be like, ‘oh, we don’t allow Pride flags for the artists’.
“And especially after last year, when I had to smuggle in the non-binary flag, and they were like, ‘you can’t have it on stage’, they told me. And then after the contest, the official statement was like, ‘it was never forbidden’. But then this year, they’re pro-actively [forbidding flags on stage]. I don’t know, it’s very strange to me.”
“And it’s harming, I feel like, the cause of Eurovision. I don’t know, it’s just weird to me.”
His song sucked last year, and now gets into politics. Nemo is slowly becoming the new Måns Zelmerlöw, always trying to get some attentino.
It’s interesting that not a lot of this year’s singers are willing to stick their heads above the parapet when it comes to the genocide in Palestine, it’s mainly former singers who don’t have skin in the game. This year’s entrants are too worried about their 3 minutes of fame. If people had the courage of their convictions they should refuse to perform as long as Israel are in it but of course they wont. The same goes for the rainbow flag ban, there are a hell of a lot of LGBT people (I refuse to use the “Q” word)… Read more »
Why do you refuse to use the Q?
They fail to realize that, given the generally low quality of this year’s entries, the only way to be remembered beyond a month would be to refuse to perform. Unfortunately, the egos of the artists and delegations are too inflated to give up their three minutes in the spotlight. The EBU’s partnership with Moroccanoil clearly reflects their priorities—and taking meaningful action isn’t one of them. The EBU has become such a shameless organization that it’s hard to even look at it anymore.
Israel is now sending a “kumbaya world peace” song to whitewash their regime (just like Russia 2014-2015 when they were already occupying Crimea) and orchestrating voting campaigns to make it seem like people support them. No one is fooled, no one.
It’s about a young woman who remembers her friends and tries to find the light and go on with life.
It’s not a kumbaya song. It’s a song celebrating the fact she survived an attack at a music festival. Pretty appropriate for Eurovision.
No need to spread hatred, intolerance and toxicity.
Israel have one of the best songs this year top 5 definitely ?
Israel had won for 4 times at Eurovision. Several second and third places . They are Eurovision history. They are on a critical part of their history. . And it’s not all I. Black and white
Nemo, if you were a wise moralist in the spirit of the ESC you would unite opposite parties instead divorcing them.
Good comment.
I am so disgusted by the EBU for including war criminals to the contest and having double standards (Russia-Israel). I used to be a big fan of the Contest because it brought me joy, and it brings me disgust. They have ruined this celebration of love by including the apartheid state.
Stop repeating the lies that Russia was kicked out because of Ukraine. It was NOT!!! Russia was kicked out for not sticking to its broadcasting obligations.
This is news for me. Can you please elaborate?
And pressure from other broadcasters to kick russia out and even threats to withdraw all together. The Russian broadcasters actually pulled out of the EBU first, and then the EBU made their removal permanent
THANK YOU NEMO
Arguments for banning Israel: • Human rights concerns: Critics argue that Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied territories breach humanitarian law, and that participation in international cultural events provides “soft power” and a veneer of normalcy. • Precedent: Russia was banned from Eurovision 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, so some claim the same standard should apply. • Public pressure: Petitions, protests, and boycotts from artists and audiences argue Eurovision should not ignore alleged war crimes or oppression. Arguments against banning Israel: • Eurovision’s apolitical stance: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) insists Eurovision is a non-political contest and tries… Read more »
they are totalling pulling a russia 2017, but they actually manage to be there
This young woman sings about remembering her friends and tries to find the light and go on with life.
In 2024, during the Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö, Sweden, Nemo, the Swiss artist who would go on to win the competition with their song “The Code,” did not make any public statements regarding Israel’s participation. At that time, while the contest was marked by significant controversy over Israel’s inclusion amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Nemo chose not to comment on the matter publicly.
But was he directly asked?
He was this time so he answered.
Sorry should have said “they”
I’m guessing all the participants had advisors and their home broadcasters telling them not to comment
Perhaps… and bare with me… thoughts can evolve over time, through lived experience and deep consideration. Some minds stagnate, others learn.
Buzz words, self glorification, minimal effort, political agendas… Yawn
As long as Israel serves us with such great entries as 2024 and 2025, I want then in.
Also, why nobody talks about Azerbaijan? Are they so biased they can’t look before their nose?
And what about Armenia?
You’re so not fab!
What an excellent example of whataboutism – a conversational tactic in which a person responds to an argument or attack by changing the subject to focus on someone else’s misconduct, implying that all criticism is invalid because no one is completely blameless. So, one can criticise one country without having to list all faults of every participating country in the whole competition. The argument is still valid, even if other countries also do bad things.
I totally agree, Eurovision is all about togetherness, harmony and inclusion… Allowing Israel to compete sends a very poor message.. The EBU needs to do better..
Thank you Nemo for speaking out! Israel as a country has no place at Eurovision. Eurovision was initially created to connect the European people and keep the peace. Israel is far from being a peaceful country, hence why they should’ve been out of the contest last year already. The EBU should be ashamed.
Bravo to Nemo for speaking up once again! The entirety of the civilized world stands for the righteous P@lestinian cause!
Once again, and we won’t stop until it’s achieved, ban Israel from Eurovision!
I don’t disagree with the essence of what they’re saying on both counts (including the flag parade), but they’re talking to an echo chamber. I’d love to know how they personally used their celebrity status to advance the Palestinian cause and help Gazans by supporting charitable organizations based in Gaza. If banning Israel is the epitome of their or your ‘struggle’, then boo-hoo. But letting off steam at the last minute makes you feel vindicated and holier-than-though.
Yea because condemning the genocide sure doesn’t “advance the Palestinian cause.” /s
BTW Israel has refused to allow access to Gaza and people are literally starving to death from lack of food, so yea, condemning their use of Eurovision as a propaganda tool to paper over their atrocities IS a constructive of Nemo’s platform. Specifically because right now Eurovision IS Nemo’s platform. Donating money at this point won’t help because nothing is getting in.
Nemo didn’t even boycott the contest because their poor song would be worthless then. Boo-hoo. You can try to fluff it up as much as you like – the response and actual effort of the people who supposedly supported kicking Israel out of the contest was barely any better than the effort it took to write out your comment. When it came to actually putting something on the line to back up their supposed horror? ‘Nahhh, that’s alright…’
Israel may have been able to claim to be defending themselves for a while, but they have been stopping aid to civilians and they broke the ceasefire. Why are they given any credibility by anyone? It’s an extermination to them and there are no excuses left. No ignorance anyone can claim. Israel shouldn’t have been allowed last year and it is actively shameful that they are still in now.
And of course we stan Nemo and the Slovenian broadcaster for saying so openly.
Respect Nemo
And they’re so right. You can’t have contest about diversity, peace, love and unity when one if the participants is actively starving a population, planning to forcibly remove a an ethnicity from its homeland and carpet bo mb ing civilian populations.
I’ll get down votes and the usual morons will probably reply with the usual token whatsboutisms but
I agree with Nemo…
Israel should not be here.
REMOVE THEM! And save this contest from the gutter of sh !t its currently sitting in.
Make Eurovision great again
Technically if the Jury wasn’t intentionally avoiding giving points to Israel and would have voted as they should based on the quality of the song and the performance, it is likely that their votes wouldn’t have been so overwhelmingly in the favor of Switzerland and with such a large discrepancy form the televote, that France or Croatia would’ve possibly won.
The Code was a good performance and a good song. Try singing really good while moving around on a top a bunch, you’ll appreciate the performance more
It’s a song contest, not Cirque du Soleil
That implies that Israel were going to be getting 10-12 points from most juries to take points off Switzerland, which is just factually not true.
No, nothing implied. Niv clearly states potential jury votes to France and Croatia were sacrificed for an avalanche towards Switzerland to ensure Israel had no hope of winning if they dominated the public vote. Note that Switzerland won the most jury points ever and got 22 x 12 points vs 15 x 12 by Loreen in 2023. Nemo, while good, simply wasn’t that good.
I disagree on all points. I would elaborate, but I am afraid I may get blocked. Let’s not forget we live in unusual times. Also, we are witnessing the effects of that in Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, which are practically imploding. Nemo’s subtle revolt is already seen before, and people are not tolerant anymore to it. No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. – Albert Einstein
I take it you won’t hand over the trophy if Israel wins, but then again, I don’t want Israel to be winning anytime soon. I’m with you there that restricting the artist from displaying any flag other than the their national flag is stupid. It’s throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I got a feeling things are gonna blow up in people’s faces. I don’t think the EBU is gonna do anything about Israel until at least the 2025 contest is over, whatever shape the contest will be in.
In 1999, Dana International bizarrely fell over when handing over the trophy to Charlotte. I suppose Nemo could end up doing something similar.
It’s not about the Pride flag. It’s about statements in general.
Let’s say next year a conservative singer enters the stage and greenroom with a flag that symbolizes traditional family, with a design of a father, mother in dress and children hand in hand.
Would we appreciate that?
No statements by the singers.
In the audience everything is allowed, within Swiss law.
“What if a conservative promoted NOT liking gays? Bet you wouldn’t be so TOLERANT huh?”
No hate speech is an easy rule and you know it.
Israel could exterminate every Palestinian and move on to genociding another country, the EBU would continue to bend over backwards for them
36 countries respect the rules of the contest. One doesn’t. It’s obvious that until the main sponsors will be an Israeli company, KAN will not be excluded. Money rules here and it is destroying the values on which Eurovision was built.
You gotta wonder who would take over Moroccanoil (did I spell it right?) if that happened
Nemo is the least deserved winner ever in eurovision history – 5th in the televote to be accurate. Such an ungrateful person
I still cannot believe it happened.
Baby Lasagna was robbed!
Baby Lasagna is an overhyped Kaarija disciple with not much in the way of talent…
LIES!
It’s actually the other way around.
None of the Israel ban supporters may say what exact “damaging actions” does the Israeli broadcaster and artist perform to destroy Eurovision. But many of us can give examples of propaganda actions performed by those who brought booing and hate to this SONG CONTEST. What destroys the values of Eurovision is not the Israeli broadcaster who sends (again!) good song and a great singer to this song contest, but all those who demand them to be banned without any fundament in rules of the EBU and perform hate on an artist that has nothing to do with political decisions. Why… Read more »
KAN is literally funded by the israeli government.
This fact does not fulfill any breach of EBU rules…
and I asked what exact “damaging actions” Isreli broadcaster and artist perform to destroy Eurovision… The fact that government founds public broadcaster is common in each country. Why Israeli broadcaster should be excluded for that?
Oh we could give plenty of examples. You just don’t want to hear them and immediately scream “That’s antisemitic” instead of trying to get where people are coming from. Let’s be very clear, the sane people who are opposing Israel’s participation are NOT against the artists or the people of Israel. Quite contrary actually. We want peace for both the people of Palestine and Israel. And we want international law to be followed – that includes the existence of TWO states, not one. Neither the Israeli government (that is party made up of right-wing extremists) nor the Hamas want that.… Read more »
Thank you for your wise words.
PEACE
Those who keep gaslighting by saying “people call any criticism of Israel antisemitic” and denying that antisemitism exists sound like those racists about 20 years ago who are like “here we go again, they think everything is racist” whenever anyone accused them of islamaphobia and they’d come back with “it’s not islamaphobia to not want to be bombed or for criticising islam”. Some things don’t change. Acting as though there aren’t Jews being bullied and singled out, synagogues vandalised because of what the Israeli government is doing. I don’t remember the same level of hatred or boycot calls towards the… Read more »
You are putting words in my mouth that I did not use. Where did I deny that antisemitism exists? That’s exactly what I mean … you don’t even bother in trying to get where people are coming from and it’s showing.
I was specifically referring to the SANE PEOPLE who level criticism at the Israeli government AND the Hamas. That does not include those who babble about “zionism” and blindly hate on anything or anyone from Israel.
I observed it last year quite meticulously… It started with demanding Israel to be excluded from ESC long before May 2o24. Then all the efforts of some Eurovision artists to ban Israel and behaving in a provocative and edgy manner ended in Israeli reaction. No wonder. I think, and I want it to be clear… what is disgusting for me is attacking, mocking and harrasing AN ARTIST that came to SING in a SONG CONTEST with a good song… and that’s what I try to defend here. And it really hit me that in fact those who did not bring… Read more »
This!
Innocent people are dying, including children, and you’re asking why we can’t just have fun for these two weeks in May. I hope you’ll decide to take your head out of the sand sooner or later.
Respect, Nemo.
Just give back already the Israeli, Thai and Nepalese hostages, or not kidnap them in the first place, and there wouldn’t be any war now.
you’re so naive
First of all, this is not a war. This has been a one sided conflict for over a year now.
All the 2+ million Palestenian children and innocent people have become hostages too btw, they had nothing to do with 7/10.
Bravo Nemo!
SHAME ON NEMO. SING IN GAZA.
There’s nothing left in Gaza
If the experience of Eurovision last year was so bad for the 2024 artists, why are the ones who complained the most so eager to come back this year as intervals? It makes me think that their claims last year are contrived or exaggerated. The timing of them all saying the same line about the Israeli delegation was so suspicious last year.
It feels to me that the EBU needs an overhaul of the leadership ASAHP
Something is gonna explode, I guarantee it, and there will be tremendous fallout. That thing could be Israel winning, and we will be in for some chaos in the interim period. Obviously, I don’t want that to happen, but there are a lot of heads in the sand here who are just kicking the can down the road.
they should have done that last year and instead they actively chose to do nothing
But people still watched and still spent money on votes. So if people can’t go without Eurovision when it would cost them no money to go without, then why would the EBU think anyone is serious about wanting Israel out? If people were so outraged by Israel, then surely they’d demonstrate that by not watching Eurovision for endorsing it. By watching, you’re saying that watching Eurovision is more important to you than the complaints you have about Israel. It’s easy to appear moral and a performative activist, but it means nothing if they won’t even make the small sacrifice of… Read more »
I want to know if Nemo visited Israel recently, if ever.
If not, he can’t speak negative about Israel.
Once he has been then he can say what he wants.
One can’t listen and agree with all the lies.
Recommendations go and listen to Douglas Murray.
And listen to an Israeli Arab Yoseph Haddad
Also Mayhar Tousi who just came back from Israel.
Good sources, especially the last two.
Nemo and his peers don’t want to see, read, hear, experience and learn. They have entered a hateful bitter bubble where they feel safe and feel liked by others in the bubble as long as they act exactly like others in that bubble.
Until the bubble bursts.
“Listen to the propaganda machines that fuel my factually incorrect worldview”
Mark, have YOU ever been to Israel? Or Palestine?