A petition signed by over 1,400 members of the Finnish music community has thrown Israel's participation in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest into question. The petition, influenced by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, accuses the nation of 'war crimes.' The Finnish musicians' call aligns with a previous initiative by Icelandic artists aiming to ban Israel from the upcoming Eurovision, scheduled to be held in Malmö, Sweden, in May.
Expressing concerns over what signatories perceive as Israel's 'war crimes' during the months-long battle with Hamas militants, the Finnish artists, musicians, and industry professionals believe that allowing Israel a platform in Eurovision contradicts their values. The petition suggests that the Finnish Broadcasting Company should boycott the competition and refrain from sending a delegation unless the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of Eurovision, takes decisive action.
This move by Finnish musicians echoes a previous effort by Icelandic artists to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest. The petition emphasizes the incompatibility of providing a stage for a country accused of war crimes to enhance its image through music. Artists like Olavi Uusivirta, Paleface, and Axel Ehnström, who represented Finland at the 2011 Eurovision as Paradise Oskar, have added their voices to the protest.
This challenge to Israel's Eurovision participation draws parallels to the situation in 2022 when Russia, following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, was banned from the contest. The ban resulted in the victory of the Ukrainian rap/folk group Kalush Orchestra. The Finnish and Icelandic initiatives underscore the growing intersection of music, geopolitics, and ethical considerations within the framework of the Eurovision Song Contest.