More than 10.000 people in Finland have signed a petition asking public broadcaster Yle to pressure the Eurovision Song Contest organiser to exclude Israel from this year's edition, due to the war in Gaza.
The television station received two petitions today asking to put pressure on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, to prevent Israel from participating, the group that organized the petitions said.
One petition was signed by more than 500 music and cultural industry professionals, and the other by more than 10.000 people.
Less than two months before the big Eurovision Song Contest, which is being held this year in Basel, Switzerland, the petitioners have also asked Finnish public television to withdraw the Finnish contestant in the event that Israel participates.
"It is contrary to our values that a country that committed genocide and is pursuing an occupation policy is given a golden opportunity to improve its image under the guise of music," the petition reads.
Yuval Rafael, a survivor of the Palestinian Hamas attack on October 7th, will sing for Israel.
Last year, thousands of people demonstrated in the Swedish city of Malmö against Israel's participation in the competition.
Bonus video:
