Finnish MEP Alametsä advocates for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision

By admin On Jan 17, 2024

Netta Barzilai, Israel’s contestant in the Eurovision Song contest in 2018. Photo: Dewayne Barkley / EuroVisionary

Finnish Green Party MEP Alviina Alametsä has called for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest, joining a chorus of Finnish musicians in their appeal. Alametsä asserts that Finland and its national broadcasting company, YLE, have the capacity to influence this decision within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Alametsä’s statement comes in the wake of reports by Save the Children, which indicate that an average of 100 children are being killed daily in Gaza as of 2023.

“A state responsible for the deaths of so many children should not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in May as if nothing has happened,” Alametsä emphasized.

Drawing parallels to Russia’s exclusion from the 2022 Eurovision following allegations of war crimes, Alametsä believes that similar standards should apply to Israel. “If a country is suspected of war crimes, it should not be allowed to participate in the contest. This standard must also apply to Israel. Finland and YLE can play a role in this decision through the EBU,” she added.

Alametsä, as a Member of the European Parliament, expressed her belief that the Eurovision Song Contest is a platform for fostering unity in Europe and providing entertainment. “However, neither unity nor fun can accommodate the killing of children, war crimes, and other oppressive actions by Israel,” she concluded.

Her stance underscores a growing sentiment among some European officials and artists who view cultural events like Eurovision as not only a celebration of music and diversity but also as platforms where political and humanitarian standards should be upheld. Alametsä’s call to action reflects a broader debate on the intersection of politics, human rights, and cultural events on the international stage.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi