Madonna urged to abandon Eurovision performance in Tel Aviv by BDS groups

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.