Many people have urged Israel to withdraw from the annual event, which has caused controversy at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Eurovision Song Contest has received criticism after allegedly covering Yuval Raphael’s performance for Israel while adding fake applause. When she performed New Day Will Rise for a rehearsal on Friday night, it is said that the competition’s bosses drowned out the booing noises.
The singing competition has been plagued by controversy over Israel’s participation in the annual event. Just last week, over 70 past Eurovision stars penned a letter demanding that the contest chiefs exclude Israel amid the country’s ongoing bombardment of Palestine, which is seeing Palestinians starving to death due to a blockade of aid.
Israel made plans earlier this month to annex the entire Gaza Strip and drive thousands of people south. Palestinians are also suffering from hunger because of a two-month aid freeze.
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Since early March, all food, water, medical supplies, and shelter have been halted in the Strip due to growing concerns that 65, 000 children could be in severe malnutrition.
Following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which Amnesty International has labeled a genocide, protests have also taken place in Basel, the city where it is located.
More than a third of the Palestinians killed in the conflict, according to reports, are minors. Over 50 000 Palestinians have been killed.
Fans shared their annoyance at Israel’s performances being drowned out or dubbed with cheers in posts shared on Twitter/X.
One fan wrote, “It’s a huge issue that the EBU keeps silencing the booing and adds fake cheers to make it appear as though the audience is welcoming the country.”
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The public service broadcaster EBU is supposed to “serve the public, not to silence them.”
Another fan argued, “Why do you substitute audience boos with fake applause effects and mute them?” What are your moral principles?
Former Eurovision acts have demanded that Israel not be allowed to compete over the country’s “genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.”
Former winners Portugal’s Fernando Tordo, British singer Mae Muller, and French singer La Zarra were also signed by the letter, which was published on Artists For Palestine. Additionally, Mara and GTE, two of the competition from the previous year, signed it.
When Israel’s entry appeared on screen in the semi-final on Thursday, the audience booed.
On the performance’s social media footage, the boos were more audible. Following the public vote, Yuval won her spot despite the protests and demands that Israel not be allowed to compete in the final.
The Mirror have reached out to Eurovision for comment.
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Source: Mirror
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