Local councillor calls for Eurovision Song Contest boycott
A CALL has been made by a Sligo Councillor to the Irish Government asking them to make representations to the European Broadcasting Union asking it to ban Israel from the Eurovision song contest.
The call was made by Cllr Declan Bree (Independent) who also asked that there should bve a boycott of the song contest should Israel be permitted to participate in the contest.
Cllr Bree, tabling his motion at Monday’s Council meeting said in countries all over the world more and more people are expressing their growing concern at the extent of the genocide and the numbers of civilian deaths in Gaza.
“To date over 30,000 Palestinians have been confirmed dead, two thirds of them women and children. Another 70,0000 have been wounded.
“Israel’s blockade of Gaza – and its refusal to allow essential supplies of food, water and medicines to be delivered is leading to increasing levels of starvation among the civilian population.”
He said the Taoiseach has stated that Israel is not “a normal, liberal, western democracy”. He added that Minister Coveney has called Israel’s behaviour monstrous and akin to a “rogue state”.
He said polls show that the vast majority of people in Ireland understand that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide.
“As Palestinians bury their children, surrounded by the rubble of their homes and their dreams, Israel must be shown that there can be no business as usual with a state that is committing genocide and perpetrating war crimes on a daily basis.
“In this context it is unthinkable that Israel should be permitted to be part of the Eurovision song contest.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to be a platform that celebrates diversity, unity, and cultural exchange,” he said.
Cllr Bree pointed out that Russia was excluded from the competition in 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine, after organisers said that to do otherwise would “bring the competition into disrepute”.
Following on from that he said: “So how in the name of goodness can Israel, which is committing war crimes on a daily basis, be allowed to participate in the competition.
“Ireland’s entry to Eurovision, Bambie Thug, has already said that
Israel should not be allowed to compete in the competition while more and more people nationwide and across Europe are calling on the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel from the competition.
“Ireland as a nation, cannot stand idly by while Israel continues its oppression of the Palestinian people.
“Our government must demand that the European Broadcasting commission ban Israel from the Eurovision song contest.
“In the event of the European Broadcasting Commission allowing Israel to participate we should call for a total boycott of the Eurovision song contest,” he added.
Cllr Bree’s motion in full stated: “Aware that over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its military operation four month ago; that 85 per cent of the population has been displaced, mostly to areas that have faced repeated bombardment from Israel by land, air and sea; that South Africa has initiated proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide ("the Genocide Convention"); this Council calls on the Government to demand that the European Broadcasting Union bans Israel from the Eurovision song contest, and further we call for a boycott of Eurovision should Israel be permitted to participate in the contest.”
The motion was seconded by Cllr Gino O’Boyle (People Before Profit) who spoke in favour with members of the Council passing the motion unanimously.