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JJ calls for Israel to be excluded from the ESC: ORF reacts to controversy!
Austria's ESC winner JJ demands that Israel not take part in Eurovision in Vienna in 2024. The ORF distances itself from his statements.
JJ calls for Israel to be excluded from the ESC: ORF reacts to controversy!
Austria's Eurovision winner JJ has made controversial statements in recent days about Israel's participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, expressed his wishes for the ESC 2024, which is to take place in Vienna. He said it was "very disappointing" that Israel continues to compete, especially during the current military operation in Gaza.
JJ criticized Israel's continued participation and expressed the hope that the next ESC in Vienna will take place without Israel. “It is very disappointing that Israel is still taking part in the competition,” he said clearly. However, these statements do not represent the position of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), which emphasizes that JJ's statements solely reflect his private opinion and are not connected to the broadcaster. The ORF emphasizes that the ESC should focus on artistic performances and music and not on political issues.
A sign against war?
Regarding the voting in the last competition, where JJ took first place with his song "Wasted Love" and scored 436 points, he shares his skepticism: "I find the voting very strange," he said, while Israel came second with 357 points. These concerns about voting are also based on the circumstances of the political situation and the conduct of the competition.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the ESC, defended Israel's participation. It makes it clear that it is a union of public broadcasters and not of governments. An EBU spokesperson highlighted the importance of Israeli member broadcaster KAN and stressed the need to protect it from privatization or closure by the Israeli government. In addition, it is important to the EBU to maintain the ESC as a universal event that promotes diversity through music.
In a broader context, JJ seeks to stimulate debate about equal treatment in competition. He draws comparisons between the situation in Israel and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, noting that Russia has been banned from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2022. This discrepancy has sparked debate among many in the music world, including an open letter from 70 former Eurovision contestants also calling for Israel's exclusion.
Future of competition and reactions
The EBU has not yet confirmed whether there will be any changes to the entry requirements for future competitions. EBU director Martin Green announced extensive discussions with the participating broadcasters to clarify how the current political tensions should be dealt with. The developments surrounding the ESC and Israel's possible participation are being followed with excitement and could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the competition.
The ESC 2025 is already planned to take place in Basel, Switzerland, while the 2024 competition will take place in Malmö, Sweden. JJ's statements and the associated discussions keep the issue of geopolitical tensions and cultural diversity in focus, which remains of great importance for the upcoming competitions in the context of the Eurovision Song Contest.