ESC debate: JJ wants competition in the future without Israel in Vienna!

ESC debate: JJ wants competition in the future without Israel in Vienna!

Wien, Österreich - FPÖ politician Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, has caused a stir in the past few days after criticizing the federal government sharply. This was done after his profit at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) with the pop opera ballad "Wasted Love", which was celebrated as a third victory for Austria in the history of the competition. In an interview, JJ expressed the wish that the next ESC in Vienna should take place "without Israel". He justified his statements by the fact that Israel's participation in the context of the current military operations in the Gaza Strip is considered questionable. This raises questions, especially since JJ has not fully recorded the current geopolitical events; He did not mention the devastating attack by Hamas, in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed in October 2023. In fact, he left a "Like" on an Instagram contribution to an attack in Washington, in which two Israeli embassy employees were killed, but later removed it, which led to doubt in his view. Vienna FPÖ boss Dominik Nepp then attacked JJ sharply and described him as anti-Semites, posting a photo of JJ with the federal government and demanding no place to give such views. OE24 reports .

In another interview with "El Pais", JJ expressed his disappointment with Israel's participation in the ESC and emphasized that the decision was at the European Radio Union (EBU). However, he decided not to go into his controversial statements in a radio interview with the WDR. He later distanced himself from his previous statements and explained that he condemned any form of violence against civilians, regardless of nationality. In the middle of these statements, the criticism of his political attitude in the Austrian media remained mixed. Some supported him while others were horrified at his views. Br.de informed .

political controversy and reactions

The statements of JJ have not only provided discussions in Austria, but also internationally. In particular, the Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, who also took part in the ESC and is survivors of a Hamas terrorist attack, praised JJ for his voice and expressed the wish that all hostages come home. The media lawyer Ralf Höcker asked JJ to disqualify JJ afterwards, since ESC participants are not allowed to use the competition for political propaganda. With regard to the implementation of the ESC, some concerns about the transparency of the tele voting were expressed, especially in the light of the continuing Gaza war, which JJ criticized. Br.de summarizes the situation.

The social principles that the ESC wants to embody, such as tolerance and diversity, often contradict the politically motivated voices. Experts point out that many Jewish communities experience that Israel is perceived as an aggressor and is no longer the refuge that they have been for a long time. Terms such as "apartheid" and "genocide" are often used in the western discussion to criticize Israel's actions, while the responsibility of Hamas is not adequately recognized. The current debate reflects an increasing estrangement of Jewish communities and questions the moral standards that are used politically selectively. This dynamic also becomes clear in the context of the ESC, the current motto of which "United by Music" should convey the values ​​of openness and solidarity. NZZ deals with these topics .