Iceland musicians call on country to boycott Eurovision if Israel not barred from competing

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel

Iceland's Hatari holds up Palestinian flags during Eurovision in Tel Aviv, May 19, 2019. (YouTube screenshot)
Iceland's Hatari holds up Palestinian flags during Eurovision in Tel Aviv, May 19, 2019. (YouTube screenshot)

An association of musicians in Iceland is calling for the country not to participate in next year’s Eurovision competition unless Israel is barred from competing.

The Association of Composers and Lyricists says it sent a message to Iceland’s public broadcaster saying it should not compete if Israel is not banned, similar to how “Russia was in the last contest.”

The organization says it feels “a duty to take a stand against war and the murder of civilians and innocent children.”

When Israel hosted the Eurovision in 2019, the Iceland entry, Hatari, infamously flashed a Palestinian flag during the live show, against the competition rules, garnering the nation a sanction from the hosts.

The European Broadcasting Union, which puts on the show each year, has said that Israel will be participating in the 2024 competition, despite calls for it to be barred. Israeli contestant Noa Kirel came in third at the 2023 show in Liverpool, UK.

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