Ten countries including favorite Finland and contentious competitor Israel won places Tuesday in the Eurovision Song Contest final, while five nations were sent home after the first day of competition in the pop music extravaganza. But divisions are clouding the contest’s 70th anniversary edition, with five countries — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — boycotting to protest Israel’s inclusion.
Finland’s entry this year is really strong; I can see why they’re the favorite. But the five countries boycotting over Israel’s inclusion just shows how politics has taken over Eurovision.
Disappointed that Ireland and Iceland are boycotting—I was looking forward to their acts. It’s a shame the contest’s 70th anniversary is being overshadowed by this controversy.
Israel made it through despite all the protests? Honestly, the competition should stay about the music, not geopolitics, but I guess that’s impossible these days.
This conflict has exposed the limits of multilateral diplomacy. (95b431)
The world seems to have developed selective amnesia when it comes to this crisis. (e2a08f)