Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest said Thursday they reserve the right to remove any Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian symbols at the show next week in Sweden.
The announcement came amid heightened tensions surrounding Israel’s participation in the annual music competition over its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, now in its seventh month. Pro-Palestinian groups are expected to stage large protests in Malmo to raise awareness of their cause.
Michelle Roverelli, the head of communications for the European Broadcasting Union that runs the show each year, said ticket holders are only allowed to bring and display flags representing countries that take part in the event, as well as the rainbow-colored flag.
They should’ve banned israel.
This is not news. It was the same last year.
I assume they’re allowing the Israeli flag?
Michelle Roverelli, the head of communications for the European Broadcasting Union that runs the show each year, said ticket holders are only allowed to bring and display flags representing countries that take part in the event, as well as the rainbow-colored flag.
Yes of course.
Israel is a competitor, so there’s no question the Israeli flag will be shown at least as a logo on television.
Well duh, it’s antisemitism to criticize Israel, didn’t you know that?
good it’s a song contest it’s not the place for politics
The gay can stay, but Palestine go away.
I think it’s perfectly fitting that Palestine’s flag be on display, taking into consideration all the meddling and financial support going on, which begs the question: what other flags would need to be on display? Afghani? Iraqi?
If we’re going to have representation, let us have representation.
Just print “Islam” on a flag and wave that. It should cover your whole list.
Ah yes, and then paint all the northern Europeans flags in crosses?
it’s just a little bit of history repeating~
But yeah, bomb a country back to the stone age, and you can expect a bit of barbarism. Knowing that could always happen to us is the act of being smart.
Thinking that religion alone (i.e without the nationalism, without the power struggles, without oligarchies wanting their cut) is kind of stupid.
I think it’s perfectly fitting that Palestine’s flag be on display, taking into consideration all the meddling and financial support going on,
Can you please clarify what you mean by meddling and financial support.
Western countries are financing Israel and supporting them via laws and actions such as this?
Quick correction: Afghan flag is the proper terminology, Afghan people, Afghan rugs, etc. The Afghan Afghani is the currency only.
Can we call a knit throw an Afghan Afghan?
palestine isn’t a member of the european broadcast union nor is it involved in eurovision why is it fitting that it would be on display?
Bro, why is Israel even in there? “They are in the broadcast union” is not the gotcha you think it is. Isreal neighbours are Egypt, Yemen, Iran and so forth.
The fact that you don’t see that European intervention and colonization in the middle east merits representation in European media shows a disconnect that can only be described as pure unadulterated repression. If you then also try to say “music” or “the arts” shouldn’t be political", I can only assume you actually like to listen to the music that comes from EuroVision.
If you want to continue with the financing of geo-political fuckery under the guise of “liberalism”, you’ve got to face it as well. You shouldn’t get to bury your head in the sand.
That being said, Palestine flags should be prominently features in the Isreali part of the crowd, since Isreal occupies their land.
It’s only fair to have proper representation.
Bro, why is Israel even in there?
because they’re a member of the broadcast union (and have been for 60 years) and that’s what eurovision is for? it wasn’t supposed to be a gotcha, i was just stating a fact.
That being said, Palestine flags should be prominently features in the Isreali part of the crowd, since Isreal occupies their land.
It’s only fair to have proper representation.
it’s literally a song competition… not a debate
The Eurovision Song Contest is an incredibly easy thing to boycott
It’s funny, I always have boycotted it, but now I will do so out of principle instead of indifference.
What a hill to die on. They banned Russia; it would have been such an easy and consistent decision to ban Israel too, the moment they started deliberately starving Palestinian civilians. Can’t wait for the PR response the moment this Genocide becomes officially recognized, “wir haben es nicht gewusst“ 2.0
Yet people will still watch this shit
Bread and circus.
Given the amount of protest and potential terrorism the event is likely to attract, the security services will have to impose a ring of steel on Malmö and surrounding areas. Chances are that Israeli military contractors will be involved, installing surveillance technology tested on Palestinians and integrating it into CCTV camera networks, MAC address sniffers, real-time transport databases and feeds from intelligence services. As a bonus, if Sweden quietly keeps the system after Eurovision is over, it may prove useful in cracking down on the violent gang wars taking place there.
