Palestinian leaders are criticizing a decision by the Eurovision Song Contest preventing their flag from being flown during the event this month.
Palestinian official Saeb Erekat voiced his dismay in a letter to Jean-Paul Philippot, the head of the European Broadcasting Union which oversees the yearly contest. In the letter, obtained by The Associated Press Sunday, Erekat says the decision is “totally biased and unacceptable.” The Palestinians do not compete in the contest.
The EBU published a list of banned flags last week. Among them were the flags of Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, Spain’s Basque region and the Islamic State group’s flag.
In a Facebook post, the EBU apologized and said it removed the list of flags. An updated policy says flags of an “offensive, discriminatory, unsuitable, political or religious nature,” are banned.
Israel has appeared 38 times in the contest, and won three times, most recently in 1998, when transgender singer Dana International competed with the song “Diva.” This year’s Israeli entrant, Hovi Star, will compete in the May 12 semi for a spot in the final.
Israeli transgender singer Dana International performing at the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem. (GPO)
— With AP
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