Cinema cancels Euro vision show over Israeli participation

A CINEMA in east London has cancelled its planned screening of the Eurovision Song Contest final over Israel’s participation in the competition.

In a statement posted across its social media accounts over the weekend, the independent Rio Cinema in Dalston said: “Following discussion with the organisers of Eurovision Party London, we have collectively decided not to screen the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest this year while Israel remains in the competition.

“We will continue to organise fundraising events for the charities we support, including Doctors Without Borders and Medical Aid for Palestine.”

Noel Curran, director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which is responsible for organising Eurovision, responded to the cancellation in a statement to Variety, writing: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.

“However, the Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments. We are aware of the many voices calling to exclude Israel from this year’s competition in the same way as we excluded the Russian broadcaster in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.”

The organisers of the UK’s largest screening party of Eurovision, Eurovision Party London, and the manager of the Rio Cinema, were contacted for comment.

Israeli singer Eden Golan will sing Hurricane at the event in Malmo, Sweden on 9 May.