Malta should prepare to boycott Eurovision over Israeli participation - Zahra
Shadow minister and former song contest participant insists that what is happening in Gaza cannot be ignored
Malta should be prepared to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates, the shadow minister for culture and former contest participant Julie Zahra said on Wednesday.
"What is happening in Gaza cannot be ignored. Even the United Nations are calling it a genocide," she said in a Fcebook post.
"Using music to promote peace is natural, and in the same way as other countries have announced they are prepared to stay away, Malta should do the same," she said.
Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, the Netherlands and Spain have announced that they will not participate in next year's Eurovision contest if Israel is allowed to take part.
But Culture Minister Owen Bonnici on Tuesday told Times of Malta that Malta will participate regardless.
He said he encouraged “a culture of dialogue” and Malta would therefore not threaten to withdraw from the competition.
“I believe the Eurovision is a place of dialogue,” the minister said. “Although I completely criticise the actions of the Israeli government, I believe that the window of dialogue should always be open.”
Zahra said she disagreed with the minister.
"I cannot agree with the government's position because artistic forums can be used to pass on a message of condemnation and protest", she said, noting that Russia has been barred from the contest because of its invasion of Ukraine.
The entity that organises the contest - the European Broadcasting Union - will take a decision on Israel's participation in December.