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Irish broadcaster requests discussion over Israel’s Eurovision participation
RTÉ asks European Broadcasting Union for talks after 72 former contestants call for ban on Israeli broadcaster
The director general of Ireland’s RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst, said in a statement on Wednesday that he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”. There were calls for Israel’s exclusion at last year’s event in the Swedish city of Malmö, and the Irish contestant Bambie Thug was asked by the EBU to remove Ogham script from their face and legs spelling out the words “Ceasefire” and “Freedom for Palestine”. Signatories included former Eurovision winners such as Portugal’s Salvador Sobral and Fernando Tordo and Ireland’s Charlie McGettigan, as well as the British singer Mae Muller, France’s La Zarra, and last year’s competitors Ásdís of Iceland and Gåte of Norway.
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