Some of the UK’s most influential cultural icons are urging the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest and to push for its relocation from Israel to another country, Anadolu reports.
In a signed letter published in the Guardian newspaper Wednesday, a coalition of 50 artists called on the BBC to pressure the organizers of the song contest to move the event from Tel Aviv in light of the illegal military occupation of Palestinians and violation of their human rights.
UK: 50 artists urge BBC to boycott Eurovision in Israel https://t.co/lMrR7boq1D pic.twitter.com/7KO9cniOsj
— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) January 31, 2019
The letter said:
“In May, the BBC intends to screen Eurovision 2019 from Israel. Eurovision may be light entertainment, but it is not exempt from human rights considerations – and we cannot ignore Israel’s systematic violation of Palestinian human rights.”
It added:
“The European Broadcasting Union chose Tel Aviv as the venue over occupied Jerusalem – but this does nothing to protect Palestinians from land theft, evictions, shootings, beatings and more by Israel’s security forces.”
50 cultural giants have called for the BBC to boycott Eurovision 2019 in Israel.
"Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people is unacceptable, anything that makes it seem normal, you have to resist it" @ianchris from @BirkbeckUoL.
Do you agree with them? ?? pic.twitter.com/gyMwMKH4WN
— RT UK (@RTUKnews) January 31, 2019
The group of influential cultural figures, which includes fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, musician Roger Waters and actress Miriam Margolyes, said that on Feb. 8, the BBC will broadcast the television program ‘You Decide’ to select the UK’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest who will fly to Tel Aviv in May to take part in the competition, adding that “for any artist of conscience, this would be a dubious honor”.
They derided ‘You Decide’, arguing it “is not a principle extended to the Palestinians, who cannot decide to remove Israel’s military occupation and live free of apartheid”.
.@bbceurovision will soon choose which artist will represent the UK at @Eurovision.
For any artist of conscience, this would be a dubious honour, say 50 figures from the creative industries.#BoycottEurovision2019 #Eurovision #DaretoDream @EBU_HQhttps://t.co/R1fNDh7AHt
— PACBI (@PACBI) January 29, 2019
“When discrimination and exclusion are so deeply embedded, Eurovision 2019’s claim to celebrate diversity and inclusion must ring hollow,” the artists said, adding that “much more in tune with ‘inclusivity’ is the outpouring of support across Europe for the Palestinian call for artists and broadcasters not to go to Tel Aviv”.
The coalition of artists also reminded the BBC of its charter to “champion freedom of expression” and that it should act on its principles and press for the contest to be relocated.
British artists call on BBC to boycott 2019 Eurovision in Israel: As official Eurovision events kick off, more than 50 of the UK's prominent culture figures sign letter urging the British Broadcasting Company to nix coverage of the event… https://t.co/Vrzpg7Ljld Ynet-Culture pic.twitter.com/WxQLGB4Bpl
— Jewish Community (@JComm_NewsFeeds) January 30, 2019
Responding to the letter, the BBC said it was not appropriate for individuals to politicize the corporation’s participation in the event, arguing that Eurovision was not a political event and that its participation “did not endorse any political message or campaign”.
Many of the letter’s signatories have previously called for a cultural boycott of Israel and have publicly criticized artists who have organized and taken part in events in Israel.
Wolf Alice Urge BBC to Boycott Eurovision. via Metro.
Bravo @wolfalicemusic and all the UK artists standing up for Palestinian human rights. @EBU_HQ @Eurovision #BoycottEurovision2019 #DareToDream #ESC2019 pic.twitter.com/JoNgIYMhE7— ArtistsForPalestineUK (@Art4PalestineUK) January 31, 2019
The public call follows an earlier campaign organized by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to relocate the event to Europe.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)