Jerusalem backlash casts shadow over Eurovision contest
JERUSALEM — When the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Israelis hoped other countries would follow suit. Instead, the move has created a backlash.
The latest setback threatens the contested city’s hopes of hosting the 2019 Eurovision song contest — an affair that has become something of a national obsession.
The Jerusalem recognition, warmly welcomed by Israel, appears to have triggered a series of unexpected diplomatic fiascoes.
Earlier this month, Argentina pulled out of a highly anticipated exhibition soccer match with Israel after the government moved the game to Jerusalem.
Britain’s Prince William, who visited this week, listed Jerusalem’s Old City as part of the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” on his schedule.
And now, the city’s hopes for the beloved Eurovision finale are fading.
Israel won Eurovision last month with a flashy pop tune called “Toy” by the previously unknown singer Netta Barzilai, who dazzled viewers with her feminist lyrics, unconventional appearance and signature chicken dance.
Her May 12 victory won Israel the right to host next year’s Eurovision contest.
But the celebrations were tempered by continued bloodshed along the Gaza border, as well as the controversial move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem two days later.
More than 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since weekly protests began in the Gaza Strip in March. Some 60 people were killed May 14, marking a jarring contrast to the Israeli jubilation over the embassy move and the Eurovision victory.
Israel says it is defending its border against mass infiltrations by Palestinian militants. But the military has come under international criticism because of the large numbers of unarmed people shot by its troops.
Israel is also confronting an international activist group calling for boycotts against the Jewish state. Supporters say it’s a way to promote Palestinian rights through nonviolent means, but Israel says the campaign masks a deeper aim of delegitimizing or destroying the country.
The so-called BDS group — for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions — has called on the European Broadcasting Union, the contest’s sponsor, to boycott the Eurovision contest in Israel next year.
Activists had targeted Barzilai and her song ahead of this year’s contest with a campaign calling on voters to award her zero points. But win she did.
The winning country traditionally hosts the contest the following year. But exactly where the show will be held remains an open question.
In Europe, capital cities have usually played host. But the city Israel considers its capital — Jerusalem — is not recognized as such by most of the international community.
Just two countries, Guatemala and Paraguay, have followed the U.S. and moved their embassies to Jerusalem.
Hosting the competition in Jerusalem could present a predicament for the public broadcasters that make up the European Broadcasting Union, sparking criticism that they are taking sides in the conflict.
Israel held the Eurovision contest in Jerusalem following its previous victories, most recently in 1999, without incident. But following the snub by Argentina, Israel is backing off its insistence that the contest take place in the city.
Argentina canceled the much-awaited match just days before it was to be played, after Israel moved it from its original location in Haifa to Jerusalem, triggering angry Palestinian protests and calls for soccer fans to burn T-shirts of superstar Lionel Messi.
Israel’s outspoken culture and sports minister, Miri Regev, the driving force in moving the soccer match to Jerusalem, has also pushed to bring Eurovision to the holy city.
“The state of Israel has the right to decide where Eurovision will be held. I will recommend to the government and to the prime minister that it won’t be right to host Eurovision if it will not be held in Jerusalem,” Regev told Kan Bet radio.