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Dear [Venue],
I am writing to ask you to cancel your screening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and consider hosting an alternative event instead. You may not be aware that Palestinians have called for a boycott of the contest because of the refusal of the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to expel Israel from the contest despite its ongoing genocide in Gaza, and its regime of apartheid against all Palestinians.
We are now in the sixth month of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza, who are subject to intense and relentless attacks. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and over a million have been displaced. According to Oxfam and major international human rights organisations, Israel is using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians in Gaza, with its siege causing acute shortages of food, water and essential medicines.
At a time when accountability for these crimes is so urgently needed, Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision provides it a stage to cover up its war crimes against Palestinians, and present itself as light and fun. Participation in the Eurovision Song Contest allows Israel to ‘art-wash’ its ongoing genocide. This propaganda value has been recognised by Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, who recently stated “it’s important for Israel to appear in Eurovision.”
The European Broadcasting Union has already shown that it can take such action if it chooses to. In 2022, the EBU expelled Russia from the contest because of its illegal invasion of Ukraine. However, the EBU has refused to heed Palestinian calls to ban Israel for its decades-long oppression of the Palestinian people, including its ongoing genocidal assault on Palestinians in Gaza, showing a hypocritical disregard for Palestinian life.
As part of their call for a boycott of this year’s contest, Palestinians have asked all venues to cancel Eurovision screenings and consider hosting alternative apartheid and genocide-free events instead. I am asking you to heed the Palestinian call and refuse to screen an event that allows Israel to art-wash its genocidal attacks. Multiple venues have already cancelled Eurovision screenings in solidarity with Palestinians. Please join them in taking a principled stance.
Many in our community are filled with grief as we witness a genocide, livestreamed to our phones and television screens. We must all do everything in our power to show meaningful solidarity with Palestinians as they face down such horrific violence and continue to demand freedom.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a further discussion to support your decision making on this important issue.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]