The Eurovision Song Contest has been divisive for years. Initially this was a matter of taste. Some regarded it as a cavalcade of unlistenable cheese while others embraced it as a joyous celebration of cynicism-free good vibes.

Geopolitical much?

There was also always a body of opinion that felt the contest was little more than a forum for countries to act out their geopolitical loyalties or vendettas. The perpetual cliche sees countries with absolutely rotten songs getting full marks from nations under their thumb.

While, for example, shouting out “Greece!” before Cyprus announces its jury winner is a relatively harmless parlour game, there’s long been genuine disquiet over the role of Israel in Eurovision. Even though people have been saying “I didn’t know Israel was in Europe” every year, it’s been taking part since 1973. Under various names (currently Kan) the Israeli public broadcaster has been a member of the European Broadcasting Union since 1957.

In 2019, Israel hosted Eurovision. This was controversial, due to Israel’s ongoing abuses of the Palestinian people. Amid calls for viewers to boycott the show, many countries reported lower TV audiences.

Since Israel’s descent into full-blown genocide, the pressure has increased on Eurovision to kick Israel out. By May 2024, there were protests both outside the venue in Sweden and onstage from performers like Ireland’s Bambie Thug. Critics pointed out the inconsistency of Eurovision’s ban on Russia and embrace of Ukraine with its welcome for Israel and repression of Palestinian solidarity.

By 2025, Israel’s participation was turning in to a PR nightmare as the showrunners frantically edited out boos and some national broadcasters blanked Israel’s performance. It also emerged that Israel and its supporters were seemingly manipulating the public vote. This meant the Israeli entry nearly overtook Austria’s JJ. Eurovision has announced a raft of measures to counter vote rigging for the 2026 event.

However, Eurovision has failed to exclude Israel as a participant. As a result, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland have all withdrawn in protest.

The UK’s Eurovision entry

So far, the UK has shown no sign of following those countries. So the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has created a petition appealing directly to the UK’s contestant.

Sam Battle performs as Look Mum No Computer. He creates music using synths he’s built himself. Having contacted the UK Eurovision team to offer songwriting services, he was somewhat surprised to find himself as the UK entry.

The petition addresses Battle, beginning:

We, the undersigned, ask you to heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from Eurovision, to avoid being part of an event providing cover for Israel’s genocide, military occupation and apartheid against Palestinians.

In an email to supporters, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign explains the reasoning behind its call:

Whilst Palestinians are still facing Israel’s genocide against them, it’s obscene for events like Eurovision to include Israel, giving it a stage to conceal its atrocities.

Palestinians have called on us to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over its inclusion of Israel.

Nicola, join us in calling on the UK contestant, Sam Battle, to heed the call from Palestinians and withdraw from the competition.

Just last week the Israeli government passed a hideous law introducing the possibility of the death penalty as a punishment for imprisoned Palestinians. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers continue to violently attack Palestinians, raiding villages and forcing them from their homes.

In this context, we are calling on Sam Battle to follow the lead of the five countries that have pulled out of Eurovision this year, and many thousands of artists, cultural workers and queer organisations who have called for a boycott.

It is now more than five months since the so-called ceasefire was declared, yet Israeli airstrikes are still killing Palestinians in Gaza. Just last week an airstrike on Khan Younis killed and injured dozens. Palestinians in Gaza are still facing starvation due to Israeli restrictions on access to aid.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, which participates in Eurovision, has repeatedly justified and incited this genocide on air, including by publishing a video of Israeli children singing “we will annihilate them all [Palestinians in Gaza].” This is who the European Broadcasting Union, and all the artists who perform in Eurovision, are choosing to stand alongside.

Palestinians are clear in their demands: we must boycott Eurovision until it stops being used to art- and pink-wash genocide.

We owe it to the thousands of incredible Palestinian musicians, artists and performers who have been injured, murdered, imprisoned and oppressed by Israel’s regime of apartheid and genocide. Join us to press the UK contestant to do the right thing and withdraw.

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

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