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Jerusalem (AP) – When the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Israelis hoped that other countries would follow. Instead, the move created a backlash. The final setback threatens the hopes of the disputed city to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 – a case that has become something of a national obsession.
"There is more concern this year than any other Eurovision year," said William Lee Adams, who runs a popular Eurovision blog. "Many Eurovision fans are building their year around a trip to Eurovision, and given the nature of what's going on, their ideal has been tarnished."
Israel won Eurovision in May with a pop song "Toy", the singer Netta Barzilai, until then unknown, which dazzled viewers with her feminist lyrics, her unconventional appearance and her dance signature chicken. His victory earned Israel the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest next year
but the celebrations were tempered by continued bloodshed along the border of the United States. Gaza, as well as by the controversial displacement of the US Embbady in Jerusalem. 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire since weekly demonstrations began in the Gaza Strip in March. Some 60 people were killed on May 14, marking a stark contrast to Israeli jubilation on the embbady movement and the victory of Eurovision.
The BDS group – Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions – appealed to the European Broadcasting Union. , the sponsor of the contest, to boycott the Eurovision contest in Israel next year.
"This contest must be boycotted to avoid complicity and the status quo with this regime and avoid irreversibly tarnishing the Eurovision brand."
Activists targeted Barzilai and his song before This year's contest with a campaign calling on voters to award him zero points, but she won.
The winning country traditionally hosts the contest the following year, but exactly where the show will take place remains an open question.
In Europe, capitals have generally played the role of host.But the city of Israel considers that its capital – Jerusalem – is not recognized as such by the majority of the international community Only two countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, followed the United States and moved their embbadies to Jerusalem
The organization of the competition in Jerusalem could constitute a different situation. icile for the public broadcasters of the European Broadcasting Union, provoking criticism. in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel is expected to present four cities as potential hosts, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel has organized the Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem after its previous victories, the last one in 1999, without incident.
Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev told Kan Bet radio that "the State of Israel has the right to decide to be held." I will recommend to the government and the Prime Minister that it would not be appropriate to host Eurovision if it will not be held in Jerusalem. "
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