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| Eden Golan |
The decision comes amid significant controversy, with more than a thousand Swedish musicians, including Greta Thunberg’s mother, signing a letter demanding Israel’s exclusion from the competition, which will be hosted in Sweden.
In response to the outcry, Noel Curran of the European Broadcasting Union acknowledged the concerns but emphasized that Eurovision is “not a contest between governments.”
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Israel will be represented by 20-year-old Eden Golan, who was born in Israel but spent a significant portion of her life in Russia before moving back in 2022.
Critics of Israel’s participation have pointed out the perceived hypocrisy of allowing Israel to compete while banning Russia from the competition.
However, Curran stated that “comparisons between wars and conflicts are complex and difficult” and emphasized that as a nonpolitical media organization, the European Broadcasting Union does not make such judgments.
The decision to allow Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024 underscores the challenges of navigating political tensions within the context of an international cultural event.
