Israel warns travelers to Eurovision to avoid protests, not show Jewish, Israeli symbols
With anti-Israel rallies expected in Basel, Switzerland during contest next week and security high, Israelis warned to ‘stay away from these centers of friction and demonstrations’
Days before the Eurovision kicks off in Switzerland, Israel’s National Security Council released a travel advisory for Israelis traveling to Basel for the annual song contest.
The NSC noted on Thursday that some 360 anti-Israel protests have taken place across Switzerland in the past year, and more are set to take place during the contest, led by those angry at the presence of Israeli representative Yuval Raphael.
“It is recommended to stay away from these centers of friction and demonstrations, which may escalate into violence,” the NSC said. It also warned that some individuals might use the protests as cover to carry out attacks on Israelis.
The NSC called on Israelis to not display Jewish or Israeli symbols in public spaces; avoid posting on social media; refrain from discussing military service or the war against Hamas; avoid demonstrations; and avoid gatherings associated with Israel.
The first semifinal of the contest will be held this Tuesday, while Raphael will appear at the second semifinal of the competition next Thursday, performing the power ballad “New Day Will Rise.”
She is considered a shoo-in to advance to the grand final scheduled for Saturday evening, May 17. Protests are expected to coincide with the second semifinal and the grand final, when Israel is slated to appear.
Security this year has been stepped up, with 1,300 police officers on duty, and specialists drafted in from the military and cybersecurity experts.
During the competition last year in Malmö, Sweden, tens of thousands of people marched in the city in opposition to Israel. Security was notably high at the event, and Israel’s contestant, Eden Golan, was largely confined to her hotel room throughout the competition due to threats.
Raphael — a survivor of the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 — told The Times of Israel ahead of her departure for Basel that she is focused on the music, and not the “background noise.”
“There are things that I can control and things that I can’t control. Ultimately, there’s no point investing energy in something I can’t control,” she said. “The most important thing to me is to bring honor to my country and do the best I can.”
Experts say they do not expect protests on the same level as last year, in part because the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the competition, has systematically and repeatedly rejected all appeals to have Israel barred. Public anti-Israel sentiments in Switzerland are also not believed to be as high as those in Sweden.
Even those competing countries that threatened to pull out if Israel was allowed to compete never followed through on their threats. This year, the public broadcasters from Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and Spain have voiced protests to the EBU over Israel’s inclusion, but their participants are still slated to compete.
Martin Green, the director of the Eurovision, told The Times of Israel in a statement on Wednesday that it was aware of the “concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.”
However, he said, the EBU is committed to ensuring that the annual competition “remains – at its heart – a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music.”
He noted that “the EBU remains aligned with other international organizations that have similarly maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.”
Agencies contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.