Four countries boycott Eurovision over Israel's inclusion
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World of Secrets, the child cancer scam from the BBC World Service. Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts. This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Celia Hatton, and in the early hours of Friday, the 5th of December, these are our main stories. Several countries have pulled out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest after it was confirmed that Israel could participate. A prominent Palestinian militia leader and Hamas opponent has been killed in Gaza. Members of the U.S. Congress have reviewed classified video of a strike on an alleged drug boat which killed two shipwrecked men. Also in this podcast, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace deal in Washington and... There are estimates which suggest that there are about 200 people dying every hour globally because of these type of infections.
Why a hospital in Britain is telling people not to wash their hands. We begin with the controversy around one of the world's biggest annual television events, the Eurovision Song Contest. Four countries have pulled out of next year's competition after organizers decided that Israel will participate, despite calls for it to be excluded because of the war in Gaza. The boycotters are Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain, which is one of the event's top funders. Eurovision is a musical extravaganza known for its glitz and glam. But increasingly, it's becoming deeply political. While the competition's slogan is united by music, the dispute over Israel's participation appears to be tearing it apart.
Here's Eurovision expert Dean Vulatic.
It's a historic moment for the European Broadcasting Union.
This is certainly one of the most serious crises that the organization has ever faced. Next year, we're going to see the biggest political boycott of Eurovision ever.
The decision by the four broadcasters came after a meeting of the organizer, the EBU, when a majority of its members agreed to tighten public voting rules but not to hold a vote on Israel's participation, meaning its entry is still welcome next year when the competition turns 70. Natalia Gorshak is the head of the Slovenian public broadcaster, which decided to pull out.
If we excluded Russia like one week after they attacked Ukraine, I think the same rules should be applied also to Israel.
You have two years of complete destruction of one territory.
While Israel has welcomed its continued inclusion, the 1998 Israeli winner, Dana International, denounced the four boycotting broadcasters and said their decision was violent and insulting. Ilan Zoller is an Israeli journalist focused on Eurovision.
I'm very happy because I think Israel should be in Eurovision. It's important. Israel is one of the best countries of Eurovision. We're sending big songs almost year after year. Personally, I think there's no place for politics. Everyone should put politics aside. It's a competition between broadcasters. And I'm very happy, but I'm a bit sad because my favorite countries are usually the Netherlands and Spain, and they withdraw.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–7:58
2
Why are four countries boycotting Eurovision over Israel's inclusion?
7:58–9:33
3
What are the implications of the US military's recent strikes in Gaza?
9:33–12:38
4
What peace deal was signed between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo?
12:38–13:46
5
How did Vladimir Putin influence the Novichok poisoning inquiry?
13:46–18:07
6
What new evidence links a volcanic eruption to the spread of the Black Death?
18:07–19:33
7
Why is a UK hospital removing sinks from its intensive care unit?
19:33–20:19
8
How does antimicrobial resistance affect hospital infections?
20:19–35:57