Dana International says Israel paying price for ‘never-ending war’ amid Eurovision drama

Eurovision winner Dana International spoke out Thursday against the withdrawal of four European countries from the song contest over Israel’s continued participation, but in a Hebrew language message, blamed the government for harming Israel’s global reputation.

In two Instagram posts — one in Hebrew, the other in English — the pop star expressed shock at the decision of Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands to quit Eurovision, after European Broadcasting Union members voted against holding a referendum on Israel’s participation, angering critics.

“Explain to me how and why you have turned against us and announced your withdrawal?” she wrote in English, addressing the four non-participating countries. “You no longer want us singing with you? Do you understand how violent and insulting that decision is? How much it adds only hatred and harm?”

She stressed Israel’s open and liberal qualities, hailing it as the most liberal country in the Middle East. She added that many Israelis want to oust the current hardline right-wing government. “You don’t punish an entire country because you disagree politically with its government,” she said.

She lent some credence to critics of the two-year war against Hamas in Gaza, but said that Israel is nevertheless trying to balance “security challenges with sanity and liberal values, things that are not well accepted in the region we live in.”

“Hamas executes people for being gay. Almost every Eurovision winner would have been hanged in the town square in Gaza,” she wrote.

But in a Hebrew-language post, Dana International blamed the hardline right-wing government and the long war in Gaza for hiking anti-Israel sentiment.

“Between us, in Hebrew, which only we understand: How did we get here? How did the place that loved and embraced us so much become hostile?” she wrote. “How did we become one of the most hated countries in the world?”

The pop star said it was “too easy to explain everything with antisemitism and hatred of Israel, because the attitude towards Israel was different over the years.”

“After the Six-Day War, we were thought of as a brave, strong, admired country. During the Oslo process, the world embraced a country trying to achieve peace. And now? The world no longer sees liberal Israel, the high-tech nation, the coastal, tourist city of Tel Aviv that embraces and accepts everyone,” she wrote.

“Something has gone wrong in how the world sees us, and we need to recognize it and do everything we can to change it. Whoever wants [far-right ministers] Ben Gvir and Smotrich, entirely right-wing [governance] and a never-ending war, should understand that this is the price. This is the path that leads to the vision: ‘a nation that dwells alone,'” she continued.

She called on Israelis to “speak up” to bring their country back into the world’s good graces.

“Let’s start with this year’s Eurovision. Let’s send someone with the qualities of a European star, with a cheerful, colorful, optimistic pop song. Let’s finally have a reason to celebrate. C’est tout,” she said.

She invited fans to read her next post in English. “Hopefully Europeans will read it too,” she added.

Just before the two posts went up, the EBU general assembly took place in Geneva ahead of next year’s contest. It was decided that Israel would be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision after members voted to adopt a series of reforms aimed at assuaging concerns about Israel.

Despite pressure to oust the country amid anger over the war in Gaza, members declined to hold a vote on the matter, prompting Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands to quit.

Iceland and Belgium were also considering dropping out of the song contest due to Israel’s participation.