Iceland threatens to boycott Eurovision over Israel’s participation

"By this we are trying to create a safe space around our national show and will assess the situation after that, taking many things into consideration.”

During an interview on Rás 2, Eiríksson said contestants set to compete in Söngvakeppnin - due to take place across three nights in late February - have agreed to do so with the goal of participating in Eurovision on behalf of Iceland, though some have expressed concerns over the escalating tensions in Israel and Gaza. According to Eiríksson, those concerns have been communicated to The European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Protesters outside RÚV offices in Iceland hand director Stefán Eiríksson a signed petition calling on the Icelandic broadcaster to push for Israel's disqualification from Eurovision. (Photo: screenshot via RÚV)[Missing Credit]

 

The decision on whether Iceland will participate in Eurovision will be made by RÚV in consultation with the winner of Söngvakeppnin, which will not become clear until mid-March.

"Deciding whether RÚV participates in Eurovision after the Söngvakeppnin ends is completely new," Rúnar Freyr Gíslason, the director of Söngvakeppnin, told RÚV.

Though the contestants in the Söngvakeppnin will not be announced until Saturday, one performer expected to compete is Palestinian singer Bashar Murad, 30, whose music addresses the Israeli occupation and gender equality in the Middle East.

Palestinian singer Bashar Murad performs at Palestine Music Expo in 2019. Murad is rumoured to be a contestant in Iceland's pre-Eurovision contest in February. (Photo: Yasmin Omari)[Missing Credit]

The Jerusalem-based singer has previously performed with Iceland’s past Eurovison representatives Hatari, a punk-rock group widely known for raising the Palestinian flag during the 2019 Eurovision contest held in Israel.

The punk band Hatari hold the Palestinian flag during Eurovision 2019, which was held in Tel Aviv, Israel.[Missing Credit]

On 18 January, the Iceland-Palestine Association and BDS Iceland, alongside numerous Icelandic musicians, held a demonstration outside the offices of RÚV to demand the broadcaster boycott Eurovision over Israel’s participation. More than 9,000 Icelanders have also signed a petition calling for Israel’s disqualification from Eurovision, citing alleged war crimes in Gaza.

In response to calls for Israel’s disqualification from Eurovision, Ziv Nevo Kulman, Israel’s ambassador to Sweden, said: “On 7 October, Israel was brutally attacked by a vicious terrorist organisation that openly calls for its annihilation. Promoting a boycott of Israel is supporting the acts of Hamas, is giving a prize to terrorism and is incompatible with the values of the [Eurovision Broadcasting Union] and of the competition.”