Madonna urged to abandon Eurovision performance in Tel Aviv by BDS groups
Open letter calling on the global icon and activist to boycott the event, which is being held in Israel.
Madonna fans will Cherish this: The Queen of Pop is set to perform at this year’s Eurovision final in Tel Aviv, next month, but anti-Israel groups are urging her to snub the show.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN confirmed the 60-year-old icon will make an appearance on stage, with the expected $1million (£770,000) cost being met by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams.
Her Eurovision gig will mark the fourth time Madonna has performed in the Holy Land, following on from shows in 1993, 2009 and 2012.
Madonna has also enjoyed personal trips to Israel previously, having become an active follower of Kabbalah after an introduction by her friend, Jewish actress Sandra Bernhard.
Following her reported appearance at this year’s Eurovision grand finale, which will be held on May 18, boycott campaigners called on Madonna to reconsider the event.
An open letter from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) – part of a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign – suggested her appearance would be used by the Israeli government “to mask its deepening oppression of Palestinians”.
The statement posted to social media read: “Palestinians hope that you will not undermine our struggle for freedom, justice and equality by performing at Eurovision in apartheid Tel Aviv, on the ruins of the ethnically-cleansed village of al-Shaykh Muwannis.
“The call from Palestinian artists to boycott Eurovision hosted by Israel is supported by more than 100,000 people signing petitions, over 100 LGBTQIA groups, more than 20 Israeli artists, and hundreds of prominent international artists.
The 2019 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Israel after Netta Barzilai won last year with her song, Toy.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
