May 2019, Week 1
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Rebekka, Thoughts On Eurovision 2019
Every year since 1956 the Eurovision Song Contest has taken place and for many (including myself) it is the highlight of the year. This year the contest is hosted by Israel in Tel Aviv (early plans suggested hosting it in Jerusalem) on May 18 and even though there is a clause in ESC rules that it should not be political it has become highly political this year.
Israel is using the competition to brand themselves and mask the human rights violations happening in Palestine. This infuriates me to no end! Many people here in Iceland are boycotting the competition this year because of the situation and some artist did also make an early decision of not participating. Israel is throwing tons of money into the competition, Madonna will be performing, the stage will be fancier then usual etc. all to show the Israelis in a nice light and distract from what's really happening.
Iceland actually has a chance of winning this year (we have competed since 1986 and never won) but I cannot bring myself to look forward to it because of this horrible situation. People around me are eagerly planning their Eurovision parties and scoff when I bring up the real situation of what's happening in that country! I wish Israel would have been banned from hosting this year! Other countries hosting ESC have also masked terrible things in the past, like violating gay rights, but this year the injustice is so blatant that I just don't understand how the world can ignore it!! I am so frustrated and sad that I can't really describe it.