British indie rockers and “Love Is Cool” stars have come out in support of a boycott of this year Eurovision song contest in Israel. The band are taking a stance against a “weaponing culture” by the Israeli government stating they are using art to wash over their human rights abuses. The band’s stance come as part of a 140 artist wide petition against the treatment of Palestinians.
Wolf Alice are among the artists who want there to be a boycott of this year’s Eurovision in Israel, because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli government says boycotts of their country are motivated by anti-Semitismhttps://t.co/uYyXdbjJuA
— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) May 15, 2019
Speaking to Sky News guitarist Joff Oddie that this years Eurovision song contests hosts are “serial human rights abusers” who “use culture to art wash” and “whitewash over their human rights abuses”. Adding in a BBC interview that “This is the most controversial Eurovision Song Contest that’s ever happened,” whilst also being “a wonderful idea, if a bit naff at times”. Oddie added that the band are “are responding to a call from Palestinian civil society, We asked Palestine – ‘do you want us to come?’ ‘No – do not come’ and that’s what you do, you respect the people who are being oppressed.”
Wolf Alice are among the artists who want there to be a boycott of this year’s Eurovision in Israel, because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli government says boycotts of their country are motivated by anti-Semitismhttps://t.co/uYyXdbjJuA
— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) May 15, 2019
On the subject singer Ellie Rowsell said, “If you say you’re not gonna go to Israel, then lots of people ask you why you’re going to other countries where you don’t believe in their government’s actions. People ask, ‘Why do you go to America? Does that mean you support Trump?, You won’t do anything if you think like that. Everywhere’s f****d, and in terms of the cultural boycott of Israel, that’s what the Palestinian people have asked for.”
#Eurovision2019: Wolf Alice call for Israel boycott over ‘serial human rights abuses’. @wolfalicemusic THANK YOU from a Jewish Israeli citizen! #BoycottEurovision2019 https://t.co/cHZ91qNKpg
— Ofer Neiman (@ofer_n) May 14, 2019
Wolf Alice’s actions come as part of a wider movement and protest against this years Eurovision song contest. With over 140 artists signing a petition against the contest. The full statement of this petition, as written in The Guardian, is featured at the end of this article. It’s safe to say however that this petition has not be met with universal praise or criticism however. Many prominent figures, including Stephen Fry & Madonna have come out in support of the contest.
These figures state that Eurovision can work in a unifying way and released a statement saying “We believe the cultural boycott movement is an affront to both Palestinians and Israelis who are working to advance peace through compromise, exchange, and mutual recognition. While we all may have differing opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the best path to peace, we agree that a cultural boycott is not the answer.”
The song contest takes place this weekend in Tel-Aviv, Israel, where Britain will be represented by Michael Rice. The festival will be broadcast across the BBC this Saturday night featuring an eclectic and diverse range of artists.
Statement from the 140 Boycott Supporting Artists.
“We, the undersigned artists from Europe and beyond, support the heartfelt appeal from Palestinian artists to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 hosted by Israel. Until Palestinians can enjoy freedom, justice and equal rights, there should be no business-as-usual with the state that is denying them their basic rights.
On 14 May, days after Israel’s Eurovision win, the Israeli army killed 62 unarmed Palestinian protesters in Gaza, including six children, and injured hundreds, most with live ammunition. Amnesty International has condemned Israel’s shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy and Human Rights Watch described the killings as “unlawful and calculated”.
Eurovision 2019 should be boycotted if it is hosted by Israel while it continues its grave, decades-old violations of Palestinian human rights. We understand that the European Broadcasting Union is demanding that Israel finds a “non-divisive” location for the 2019 Eurovision. It should cancel Israel’s hosting of the contest altogether and move it to another country with a better human rights record. Injustice divides, while the pursuit of dignity and human rights unites”.
