From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Pro-Palestinians groups call for BBC boycott of Eurovision in Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GooglePro-Palestinian groups in Britain are demanding a BBC boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is to be held in Israel next year.
BDS groups held two separate protests yesterday outside the BCC studios in London and Manchester, where activists urged the public broadcaster to disassociate from next year’s song competition.
In a statement, the groups accuse Israel of “using [the] Eurovision to art-wash its egregious crimes against the Palestinian people.”
According to videos and photos of the protests uploaded to social media, the protests drew a dozen-or so people.
The Eurovision contest will be held in Tel Aviv on May 25, 2019, with the semifinals on May 21 and 23. In September, some 140 artists called for Israel to be stripped of its hosting privileges “until Palestinians can enjoy freedom, justice and equal rights.”
Today @BBC Studios in Media City #Manchester
Protest @Eurovision being staged in Israel.
With @ManPalestine @ManchesterJAP @HX_Palestine #BoycottEurovision2019 #Eurovision #Eurovision2019 #BDS #Boycott #Israel pic.twitter.com/HPhAoWqE9Y
— GM Friends of Palestine (@GMF_Palestine) December 1, 2018
The Times of Israel Community.