Entertainment leaders speak out for Israel in Eurovision

Since its Eurovision debut in 1973, Israel has played an important role in the song contest’s history. The country has won four times and hosted in three years, most recently in 2019. That year’s competition, hosted in Tel Aviv, was voted by Eurovision fans as the best production of the decade.

However, following the October 7 attacks and the war in Gaza, Israel’s participation in Eurovision has been highly controversial, with calls for boycotts and protests in some cultural spaces. These tensions and demonstrations escalated during the 2024 contest in Malmö, Sweden.

Two years after performing at that year's Eurovision, Israeli singer Eden Golan said in an interview with Ynet that she still suffers from anxiety, revealing: “I have recurring nightmares of people chasing me and killing me.”

Despite the controversy, Israel is set to participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with public broadcaster Kan maintaining its membership in the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the competition. Singer Noam Bettan has been selected as the country’s representative, after winning the televised competition HaKokhav HaBa.

Ahead of this year’s contest, more than 1000 celebrities and entertainment leaders have signed an open letter supporting Israel’s continued participation. Organised by the non-profit entertainment industry organisation Creative Community For Peace, the list of signatories includes comedian Amy Schumer, actors Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, and Debra Messing, musicians Boy George and Gene Simmons, and talent managers Sharon Osbourne and Scooter Braun.