Israel can compete in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, organisers confirmed on Thursday, again rejecting calls for it to be excluded over the Gaza war like Russia was after invading Ukraine.
On Wednesday, a group of 400 celebrities including British actress Helen Mirren, British singer Boy George and former Kiss frontman Gene Simmons published an open letter supporting Eurovision's decision to maintain Israel's participation.
The letter was issued in response to petitions calling for Israel to be kicked out of the world's biggest live music event, which is being held in Malmo, Sweden, in May.
Approached by AFP, the European Broadcasting Union said it had conducted a review and decided late last year that Israel could participate in the kitsch annual pop extravaganza.
"The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments," EBU director general Noel Curran said, reiterating a statement made in January.
ABBA!
Je pense pas qu'il yai un gros attrait,
Apres c'est interessant de voir l'eurovision (pas en live, mais du resume sur levenement, ou ce genre darticles), pour comprendre un peu les geopolitiques europeennes aussi. Les messages diffuses.
Je ne peux mempecher de voir ce programme en mode "1984" (comme beaucoup de choses), genre on diffuse nos valeurs et pensee de lannee, dans cette emission.
Tiens le gueu.
Mais il est clair que ce media de communication est useless,