The political drama continues. Israeli attorney and activist Nitsana Darshan-Leitner is calling for the Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to ban Hatari from performing at Eurovision in May as a result of their widely publicised stance on Palestine.
Nitsana is the head of Shurat HaDin, an NGO which offers legal representation for people involved in Jewish and Israeli causes. She argues that Hatari intend to take advantage of the Eurovision opportunity to stage a protest against Israel.
The Icelandic BDSM — note that’s not BDS — band have been politically outspoken since before they were selected to represent Iceland.
They told Israeli TV station Channel 13, “if Eurovision 2019 is not a political affair, then the Likud Party is a pop band and Netanyahu is the lead singer”.
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner on Hatari
This is what Ms. Darshan-Leitner had to say on the matter in a statement sent to wiwibloggs.
“We received information that the band representing Iceland supports a boycott of Israel. Last summer, the band signed a petition distributed in Iceland calling for the boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest. After being selected, Hatari announced that it intended to protest against Israel on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest, despite the fact that it would violate the rules of competition.”
“According to the amendment to the Entry into Israel Law, a person who is not an Israeli citizen or in possession of a permanent residence permit in Israel will not be granted a visa or residency permit, if he or the organization or body he is working for has knowingly issued a public call to boycott Israel, as defined in the Law for Prevention of Damage to State of Israel through Boycott. The Icelandic band publicly and explicitly called for and supported a boycott of Israel. They must be prohibited from entering the country.”
The Interior Minister has issued a reply, stating that the organisations request would be considered upon receipt of a written letter. “In line with the amended law, the interior minister will receive a recommendation from the authorized body, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, and only then make a decision.”
No decisions have been made yet. But it’s clear political rumbling will continue to rattle on between now and May.
Hatari would argue that any event hosted in Israel is inevitably political, but others would see their planned political statement as removed from the spirit of Eurovision and inappropriate for an apolitical song contest.
What do you think? Do you think Hatari should be banned from performing a Eurovision? Let us know in the comments!
Im actully ashamed of my country. Im from Iceland and i just watched eurovision. I feel bad for Israel to see what Hatari did. I dont think that my country deserves to go.
Because the EBU are very against censorship i think that they would still keep Hatari in the competition. If they pull anything on stage however… they should be banned. THAT BEING SAID, I’m like… 90% sure Hatari are a band that mocks other bands that pretend to be political but actually do nothing about their cause… so if thats true, I think the plan is to say the stuff they said in the interviews then not do that onstage… I don’t think Hatari would be dumb enough to pull an onstage protest because that WILL get them banned.
they’re against a country & dont feel it should be in Eurovision … yet they want to go & perform there…
ICELANDICS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS FIGHTERS AND VIKINGS AND VIKINGS ARE NOT GLITTER BARBIES
THIS IS A MUSIC CONTRST FOR ALL OFF EUROPE AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANNY SONGS THROUE THE YRARS THAT I HAVE HATED
TIME FOR SOME REAL ROCK FOR ALL OFF EUROPE
ROCKERS HAVE BOTH HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF SPEACH EUROVISION
Hatari went too political, to be honest, breaking the rules of EBU. If it was for Georgia, they would have been banned already…
I don’t like the Icelandic entry, but if Iceland is banned by Israel, I’m not going to watch this year
I’m fan of Iceland and songs since 2010
Boycott Israel if ban them!
Only problem with that is that you’d have multiple big 5 countries not able to compete either since they also stick their nose in the middle east’s business.
Too many countries in Eurovision are involved in conflicts. The band is right. Eurovision is political no matter what.
That is true, but by “involved in a war” I meant countries in a war status. France and Italy aren’t in war with any country: their armies are fighting overseas, but the countries themselves aren’t in a war status. Unfortunately capitalistic powers profit a lot from the war industry…
I’m sorry, it is EUROsong, you know Izrael, i don’t see you in Europe, where are you???
I hope Hatari will get there and win, my favourite.
HATRID MUN SIGRA
yes… your hate will prevail…so much hate..shame on people like you..
DAM MABY of you understud ICELANDIC i would give a crap about you
BUT for the RECORD
THE SONG IS ABOUT THE FIGHT LOVE OR HATE
SO BEFOR TALKING CRAP ON MY COUNTRY YOU BETTER KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT
It is in fact Eurovision Song Contest. All paying members of the EBU have the right to participate. Australia is also not in Europe, just like Morocco and largest part of Turkey but they performed.
he or she knows that, believe me…. it was just a cynical question…in this forum it’s a hobby to bash Israel and all the members are clapping their hands from happiness…
I don’t see Australia in Europe
LOL we see the same lol
Ástralía IS NOT IN EUROPE ???????
I hope Hatari is not banned and I hope they denounce Netanyahu live on stage and bring Palestinian and Israeli flags
I totally agree with you!
*facepalm*
I HOPE THE VIKINGS IN THE WORLD EAT YOU UP
???
If Hatari wins it will feel so good 🙂
End the open prison NOW
End the deaths NOW
All this should be UNACCEPTABLE in 2019
end of the israeli terror victims, you forgot that! i hope that eurovision is safe this year because these palestinian terrorists which you like so much could attack every minute or just kill gays, unfortunately…this is unacceptable in 2019…
?
FUCK NETANYAHU
Disqualify them if they do anything, fine.. But prevent them from even attending before they’ve done anything wrong? Now that is what I call censorship. Stop acting like Eurovision isn’t a political game. We’ve seen Ukraine and Russia through the last couple of years. TOY is about #metoo which is a political movement, Italy’s lyrics last year mentioned real life terror events… Like Hatari or not but to exclude them for being critical to the world is basically to shut them off for threatening your opinion. Oh, and btw if you thought Konchita Wurst won _just_ because of a pretty… Read more »
Well said. Too many people supporting Hatari being banned haven’t realized that if that happens, it’s just proof that Israel is a country that lacks freedom of speech.
Hatari isn’t threatening anything. They even said that they won’t do anything on stage. They’re just giving an opinion and they can’t be banned just because some people dislike it.
Maruv – out
Hatari – soon out?
I will boycott and not watch Eurovision if Hatari is banned
This is all just such hot air. For one, maybe I’ve missed something but I’ve never seen Hatari announce – certainly not in that interview they gave – that they want to stage an *actual* protest. It seems mostly inferred from their outspoken standpoint on the occupation and Israeli politics and their non-committal responses. And this article is literally just about one NGO that has issued a statement, not even an official request.
Let’s wait for something to actually happen, feels like a storm in a teacup so far.
The only news sources claiming Hatari said that are Israeli ones. That alone says a lot.
#1 Hatari
#2 The Netherlands
#3 Russia/Switzerland
#1 Iceland
#2 The Netherlands
(#3Ukraine)
#3 Slovenia
Just no Israel!
BOYCOTT EUROVISION 2019
I just think that bad publicity is good publicity and Israel is probably not dumb to stop them from entering their country in the end.
Hatari: *States on Israeli TV they plan to be critical of Israel hosting and may or may not break EBU rules regarding politicization while on stage*
Eurofans: “Omg why would Israel do this?!”
If they will not let us to eurovision they ar basically doing what the song says, hatred will prevail.
Exactly, they are already proving Hatari right
They are not going to go to Tel Aviv, because they never intended to. They actually don’t give a damn about Eurovision, they use the contest in order to make fuss and drama, as a part of their provoking image. They push EBU to restrict them, or even better to cancel them, so they can been seen as the victims. So, let’s not play their game anymore.
thats totally how I see it. They’re mainly political movement not a music band
Oh come you can do better than Ukraine*insert sarcasm* I know MARUV is not possible, at least let me have Hatari, please~
Are they dumb? What kind of favouritism is this? Hatari only opposed their government. They could do the same about US, UK, French, Russian governments. If they seriously do something against Hatari I’m done with this country. Wtf
You can say it after me “POLITICAL STATEMENTS, MESSAGES, ACTS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN EUROVISION”. Not only in the songs and on stage performances, but in the press conferences, interviews and public actions.
we don’t live in a fairytale where governments don’t exist. Netanyahu tried to used Eurovision to his advantage, so he has to suffer the consequences.
Actually Netanyahu haven’t used Eurovision, on the contrary he was not willing to pay much for the hosting there. But it’s not a matter of Netanyahu, he is elected, it’s a matter of respect to the Israeli people who host the contest.
I disagree that Israel should take measures for the Icelandic entry, it’s a RUV and EBU job to make clear to Hatari how the game is played if they want to play. But I doubt they really want.
The Israeli government has actually repeatedly said it would not intervene in Eurovision in any way.
Reacting to an entrant who insults your country in your home by breaking the contest rules is not intervention in the contest, is the sensible and expected reaction. It’s like you coming to my home to insult me in my face and when I say ‘Please, go out’ you accuse me for being rude.
And as I said, the whole issue have to be solved by EBU before Israel does anything.
I agreed with you in the comment you’re responding to. People here are really mad at Israel for some reason when Hatari is so clearly in the wrong. Openly violating the rules of the contest doesn’t make them martyrs.
What a bunch of BS! Take your politics elsewhere, minister!
Hatari was the first to have heavily insulted Israel with their politican statements. If they don’t want a Eurovision in Israel (they have called for a boycottage of the contest there), they can stay in their home.
Insulting particular actions of the government and people are two different things. Obviously
The Israeli governments are elected by the people there. And the Israeli policies have been the same for decades. So yes, it’s actually a matter of the Israelis in general.
But what do we actually discuss, if some entrants have the right to make political statements and attacks through the contest? No, it’s very clear by the rules that they can’t.
Winners in all previous years have had some kind of political controversy or drama. It’s just part of the PR some of them need to reach mainstream media. So, let’s face it, honestly, this just blows some winds for Hatari ship.
Insulting countries and peoples is a hideous way of promotion though.
So countires who break human rights and international law shouldnt be criticised in todays society?
Just like the year Lorde won Eurovision? a lot prople were angry about the band and tried to ban Findland from participating. This only increase their publicity
that’s a really confusing typo you’ve got there lol
It’s a completely diferent case. Lordi didn’t make any political statement in 2006.
You’re all only kicking up a stink about this because you all hype that horrendous entry. If it was Montenegro or something that the fandom doesn’t like then none of you would bat an eyelid and probably be happy to see it happen. The levels of hypocrisy is toxic here. If they’ve broken Israeli law then Israel are well within their right to refuse them entry, as Ukraine did to Julia in 2017. I don’t think it should necessarily happen but the way you all go at is an absolute embarrassment to the fandom. Some of your arguments for why… Read more »
Let’s be real here. A large number of this year’s participants probably have the same opinions as Hatari, only difference is they said nothing about it. If they banned every singer with Hatari’s opinion, than half of them would probably be gone. Also? The rumor that Hatari is going to protest on stage is a blatant lie spread by a couple of Israeli news websites. No where else will you find an article that can verify that they said they planned to do exactly that. Actually, on Israeli news they said the OPPOSITE and told people they do not plan… Read more »
Well said. Upvote.
Not after Maruv my heart can’t take it.
Same?
Maruv>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hatari
Now I want Hatari to win even more <3
Great !! Till now everybody was talking about boycotting Israel and all was quite convenient… Ouhps…”How the coin flips”…ha ha … – Now it’s Israel that threatens to boycott another country – and everybody starts to really panic… Hilarious !! Lol
If Israel decides to “legally” ban Hatari from entering the country for merely TALKING about their opinion, …then that just proves that Israel lacks freedom of speech, does it not?
Also by extension, …isn’t it valid to call out or even boycott a country for lacking freedom of speech?
I’m just saying- 3 musicians by themselves are NOT at the same level as an entire country’s government
If you can’t handle any level of criticism, than don’t host
Assuming that the band won’t cross a line (for now, they’ve teased those who are nervous about their presence, but haven’t done anything wrong at all) and EBU won’t ban them from the contest, all this fuss will only make more people vote for them. If Israel keeps throwing the spotlight at them for the next two months, they can also throw the trophy at them too.
They have to be smart about it though. No crossing those legal lines. (Serious face)
I trust they will. After all, the greatest joy of deadpan humor is to make people overreact while you keep your cool.
Sis you right
I learned it all from April Ludgate!
Where we draw the line? Tell me, where we draw the line.
I also thought about them when we started talking about limits. 😛
Completely agree!!
This “band” is looking for attention. That’s how there is not a drop of talent.. );
Every performer seeks attention, but only some performers are blessed with talent.
Not in that ways though.
Do you have any idea how bloody hard it is to make a song with minimally 3 different genres in 2 keys and make it sound good? That’s the definition of talent honey
Actually is a very mediocre and rough effort in the field of industrila/punk metal, that sounds good only in the pink bubble of some eurofans. People who know about these genres actually laugh at it.
because it is not metal or punk, this is electro industrial goth, ask people that really know anything about this sort of music next time.
Looking at this objectively, the attorney has the letter of the law on her side, of course. However, the challenge for her will be to prove that the band have been serious in their intentions. This is where I am not clear at the moment, and I do think this question needs to be looked at in more detail, both with the band themselves and with RUV reps.
Looking at this subjectively, I don’t like her one bit. I hope nothing happens out of this.
The hatari band are pretty hypocritical for signing that boycot petition…. Im telling you this : if they were to do their edgy bdsm performance on the west bank, the conservative palestinian people wouldn’t be like “YASSS slay my queens!”
Well said !!
I guess you have a point, Israel have human rights in the country they took from the Palestinians. Oppressing and killing Palestinians in a country they were given by god sounds very reasonable and according to human rights. <3 Israel
because many of the reactions here are of hypocrytes and anti israeli members…just waiting to spread their propaganda against Israel….
It’s art – everything that Hatari expresses is not “a real thing”, it’s not literal – it’s art. In the world of art there is freedom of expression. Art is peace, art makes us think … There must be real Israeli artists who can advise these politicians.
Hatari’s message so far was: you think you can be apolitical – but with everything you express you are political in a way.
“When we sell ourselves – the price will be very high” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoVBZwgtwYE
NO Anita! Not everything is considered art. When you say:”it’s not literal-it’s art” you sure live in “LA LA LAND”. Enough to learn after Ukraine entry 2009 was banned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6-7Rw4xug
ESC is not and should not be political.
you misunderstood me, but it does not matter.
You r right. It was Georgia
We don’t wanna put in! And it was brilliant, by the way.
It’s not art, they are some supposed “anti-capitalist” (LOL) caricature seeking attention. That’s their promotional trick and you have bought their trick. That’a ll.
As I’ve already said…. Iceland could consider to withdraw…
And then give the trophy to The Netherlands on a silver tray?!
The hype about Iceland will be over in a month, the song gets annoying after a while and the shock effect is already fading. The more you watch it, the cheaper the whole thing looks. I hate to say it because they were my no. 1 for a while.
Talk for yourself. For me, it’s like fine wine 😉
If you can’t handle this sort of thing, don’t host. It’s an international contest, not an Israeli contest. Not really your right to decide who participates or what their political views should be. Don’t understand why a host country would ever think they have the right to exclude singers from the contest.
The problem with the “no limits” argument is… what if I wrote and sent a song about the glory of terrorism? Or what if I sent a romantic song addressed to a child? Lines are sometimes there for a reason. This banning happens to be a law that can be enacted in Israel, but the real question is: are the band serious about their intended offence, or not?
I wasn’t advocating “no limits”. I was merely pointing out that the conduct of the entrants (indeed, also the content of their performance), is not for Israel, the host, to police. Logically, this should fall under the EBU’s umbrella. Israel can state their case, for sure. But no way should they (*Cough*Ukraine 2017*Cough) act as if the contest is theirs and theirs alone.
In principal, it depends on whether or not an act intends to commit a legal offence or not. Hence my question about the band. The EBU doesn’t police local laws, that is the job of police. The EBU does have certain things they don’t allow, but are actually quite relaxed on most kinds of art, thankfully. But my point is: the EBU has zero jurisdiction over a matter of law, should this case get that far.
Add to that, if the band are deliberately intending to mock the host country, the ESC rules should not allow this anyhow. It goes against the original spirit of the contest when it was formed in the 1950s. However, the band have so far been authorised into the ESC, which implies that someone there sees the irony of the art, and not any intended offence. Hence, I am uncertain as to what will happen.
Exactly my point. That would make it an EBU issue and if they were planning to initiate a political protest at the contest itself, I would be the first advocating that they have the book thrown at them, but of course, the EBU book, not the Israeli book. 😉
Ms. Darshan-Leitner might want to look into expressing herself better but based on what she said, she’s talking about banning the band because of something they said/did before the contest, whilst they were in Iceland. What that has to do with the Israeli police or politicians is beyond me.
I think it is similar to what we have in the UK when the border police has a list of people banned from entering the country. Usually these people spread hate speech and are intending to do this in the UK. This band might have already infracted similarly through their interview comments and their song abroad, and could be interpreted as entering Israel in order to proliferate such speech. However, it will be very difficult to prove, and the EBU has seemingly already given them a pass. (They are not lawyers, however.)
…Did you seriously compare their song, which is actually about anti-capitalism and the dangers of fascism (anti-fascism is a message EVERYONE should get behind) to PEDOPHILIA?
First of all, those two things aren’t even remotely at the same level.
Not in the slightest. The argument that the attorney is presenting is that the supposed meanings in the song are NOT the actual intention behind sending the song. The attorney is questioning the band’s true motives; that is the entire point. I very much doubt that a general anti-capitalist song would be against the law in this scenario on its own – the whole point is that the comments reported from the band indicate that the song has another intention that is intended to be more directly offensive to the hosts specifically. Does that make sense?
Listen buddy, whoever is anti-capitalist should go and live in Venezuela and Cuba, not in Western Europe. I’m fed up with all these supposed “rebels” that are fed by the system much more than most of us.
If Hatari wants to make a political stent during their performance (in a NON POLITICAL SONG contest) – better they remain in the airport – and sent immediately (!!) to perform in front of HAMAS and HEZBOLLAH (before being beheaded by them – due to their provocative KUFAR (non Muslim believer) show.
Considering how you just called for 3 musicians to be beheaded- I think what you just said is closer to hate speech than anything they are ever going to say.
Yeahp….. I know poe-tay – it’s indeed difficult to face the truth
Good. I hate politics in Eurovision.
But to remove them from the contest because of their political views is also a political move
If there are no polictics involved in the contest, Hatari’s political views shouldn’t matter at all
And that is the point people seem to forget too much
Gosh. This is just giving Hatari and their course so much more publicity! #backfired
Okay so I have read MULTIPLE articles on this band, and not a SINGLE one of them claimed that Hatari ever said anything about protesting anything on the actual Eurovision stage.
The only articles I’ve seen made that claim were from Israeli news sources- which REALLY leads me to believe that they are making this up and stretching the truth.
Either way, if they won’t let Iceland perform, then that’s the final straw for me and I won’t watch this year if they do.
Apparently you didn’t see their interview to Israeli tv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSHRTdULc7I Do you still insist on your opinion?
Actually- I HAVE seen that exact interview. They never said they planned to protest on stage in this interview either! Actually they literally said “there are no plans to have a Palestinian flag on stage”. They basically told Israeli news that they are NOT protesting on stage, if you actually paid any attention. Also, that interview made it pretty clear that the boys are nothing more than just trolls- advertising a fake soda brand that shares a slogan with this years contest despite claiming to be anti-capitalist. That’s clearly a jab at the “you can’t advertise products at eurovision rule”.… Read more »
Actually- I HAVE seen that exact interview. They never said they planned to protest on stage in this interview either! Actually they literally said “there are no plans to have a P.alestinian flag on stage”. They basically told Israeli news that they are NOT protesting on stage, if you actually paid any attention. Also, that interview made it pretty clear that the boys are nothing more than just trolls- advertising a fake soda brand that shares a slogan with this years contest despite claiming to be anti-capitalist. That’s clearly a jab at the “you can’t advertise products at eurovision rule”.… Read more »
Banning Hatari would certainly contribute to the musical quality of the competition…
Even if Hatari will be banned – Serbia and Montenegro will not make it to the final ….at least Hatari have différent song and not ballad which was played many times before …(.sorry not sorry )
Banning serbia and montenegro this year would help this year.
BOYCOTT EUROVISION
FUCK NETANYAHU
#1 HATARI
OMG I feel Hatari will do something on stage if they are allowed to participate 🙂
All eyes on Hatari
I will not watch this year if the winner is banned
Boycott Eurovision is Hatari is banned from entering Israel
The Winners, no doubt
Controversy
Killer performance
They are smart
Hatari, please denounce the murderer Netanyahu and his friends that think an open prison and deaths is ok
Bring the Israeli and Palestinian flags on stage PLEASEEE if you read this Hatari
Hatari if you read this please don’t desecrate the values of this competition with political stunts. Let your music speak not your agendas.
Everyone take a chill pill. Shurat Hadin is a rediculous organization in the far right. So it wrote a letter to the minister. Big freaking deal. No one is banning Hatari nor revoking visas. The fact you’re all are so quick to criticize Israel because of something that some tiny NGO did is absurd. Hatari is welcome in Israel. If they do pull some kind of stunt on stage or in the green room EBU will fine them. That’s it.
Yessss like Armenia was in 2016 and then end in the top 10 #dramaisstillhere
I hope Hatari wins the traditional fight with Netanyahu
I hope Hatari brings the Palestinian flag
I hope Hatari denounces Netanyahu on stage
I hope Hatari Wins
Those last two things are mutually exclusive.
This comment section is a pleasure, let me tell you.
Not gonna happen, if they don’t make some sort of extreme actions or statements, now after that they won.