Former Eurovision contestants call for Israel and broadcaster KAN to be banned from contest
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In open letter, former Eurovision contestants call for ban on Israel
- Seventy-two former Eurovision contestants have signed an open letter urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ban Israel and its broadcaster, KAN, from the competition.
- The letter criticises KAN's alleged complicity in Israel's actions against Palestinians and cites the broadcaster's controversial coverage of the 2024 contest.
- The former contestants accuse the EBU of hypocrisy for allowing Israel to participate while previously banning Russia, and demand an end to what they call a double standard.
- This year's Eurovision contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, will feature Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
- Several broadcasters and organisations have previously protested Israel's participation in Eurovision, citing the ongoing conflict.