debate about Possible Israeli deportation Eurovision 2024In parallel with what happened in Russia in the 2022 edition, Benidorm Festival after one of the presenters said, Inés Hernand advocated excluding this countryAlthough RTVE maintains a different position.
“I deeply condemn Israel’s attacks on the people of GazaI say this not as RTVE, but as Inés Hernand. This is a genocide and as an individual I demand a ceasefire from now on.He drew attention at the press conference he held for the competition, where the Spanish representative will appear at the European festival next Saturday and will celebrate its first semi-final tonight.
Commenting on the previous photo session, the presenter said ““No to Israel in Eurovision”and “when” if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) continues its participation Russia was also banned in similar cases“This points to other capital-related issues.”
He was thus referring to the swift expulsion of Russia from Eurovision 2022 after Russia’s troops invaded Ukrainian territory, amid an unprecedented wave of solidarity that carried this other country to victory in a clear sign of widespread support in the face of barbarism.
Last Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued injunctions against Israel, demanding that it take “prompt and effective” steps to prevent the commission of genocide in Gaza and punish any incitement to the extermination of Palestinians in the Strip. However, he did not demand a “ceasefire” as South Africa wanted.
This decision did not change RTVE’s stance on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024; this Tuesday and once again bowed to the EBU’s general position regarding Hernand’s remarks. “Our position remains the same, we are one of its partners, there are internal discussions and as a result, individual decisions are made that do not comply with RTVE,” said María Eizaguirre, Communications Director of the public organization.
In particular, the EBU claims that Eurovision participants are “broadcasters, not governments”, that this country is one of the oldest participants (with half a century of history and four victories) and that public opinion will keep Israel in the competition. Television “complies with all the rules” of a contest that is also an “apolitical event”.
Thus, it responds to a number of petitions calling for Israeli deportation through platforms such as Change.org (with 25,000 signatures in one of the initiatives recording the most support) and manifestos such as the manifesto of approximately 1,400 members of the musical. Individual views such as those of the Finnish community or the famous British representative Olly Alexander, who called Israel’s attack a “genocide” that caused the deaths of approximately 25,000 Palestinians.
What do Spanish artists say?
The duo said, “We respect the decision made by the festival. It would be good if a music event is not politicized, but it is inevitable and we believe that as artists we should be there.” marlena to questions from EFE, a wariness maintained by the majority of the 16 attendees at Benidorm Fest 2024.
Nor more stable profiles like this Maria Pelae, Aspiring to represent Spain with a theme that appeals to historical memory, the artist sees his position clearly: “Everything is so complicated that I don’t know what to tell you. On a personal level I know families who have suffered a terrible hardship from both sides of the time.”
“It’s a move, because it seems like we have to position ourselves in favor of one or the other, and here you have two peoples paying the price because of the politicians. I don’t think we should position ourselves other than in favor of the citizens,” he said. Angry Fernandez.
In line with Noan, duo Lérica said, “We don’t like to get into these areas, because it’s politics and we are artists, what we sell is music and that’s what we’re here for, to share it and enjoy it.” Almácor or Mantra is the group that includes Carlos Marco.
Among all these sounds, Jorge González takes a stronger line. “This should be the same for everyone, and if Russia is left out, Israel should also be left out. I don’t understand politics, but if this is a music festival, what’s the point of including a country that’s the exact opposite?” he argued.
Miss CaffeinaThe oldest and most experienced band of this edition, their appearance on the Eurovision stage in 2009 together with Palestinian Noa expressed their desire to believe that “perhaps different things can be achieved through music” when an unprecedented reality is achieved. Israeli Mira Awad will sing the song ‘There Must Be Another Way’ (Spanish for ‘There Must Be Another Way’).