Vienna demonstrators rally against Israel’s Eurovision participation

Pro-Palestinian protesters in Vienna have accused the Eurovision Song Contest of contributing to the “normalisation of war crimes” during demonstrations held in the Austrian capital as the city hosts this year’s event.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Friday, May 15, at the Venediger Au play park on the outskirts of Vienna for a protest organised by the group No Stage For Genocide. The protest targeted Israel’s participation in the contest amid its actions in Gaza, which have prompted Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia to boycott Eurovision.

One protester, Viktoria Eibensteiner, a Vienna resident, said: “I think it’s very important to show a symbol of Austria being against war crimes, about not offering a stage for Israeli crimes in Palestine, in Lebanon, wherever.

“So… we want to take a stance against genocide, against war crimes, and that’s why we’re here today, it’s a celebration that serves to counteract the Eurovision Song Contest and the normalisation of war crimes.”

Marco Wanjura of the Palestine Solidarity Austria team, which helped organise the event, said: “The European Song Contest claims to stand for solidarity, love, diversity, and everything, but in reality… this year’s contest is hosting Israel as a country which is right now committing a genocide in Gaza.

“And that’s why we wanted to show that the majority in Austria is actually against that.”

Additional smaller demonstrations took place throughout the week but were kept away from the Wiener Stadthalle venue, where Eurovision is being held, amid a heavy police and security presence.

Fiona Salter, an Irish-born Vienna resident who attended the protest, said: “It is important to stand up and say we cannot just celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest without mentioning what’s going on in the world, which is so much more important.

“The ongoing genocide, the ongoing brutal displacement, and apartheid that’s going on in the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem… we can’t be silent.”

Eurovision’s grand final is scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Israeli entrant Noam Bettan, 28, was booed during his performance in Tuesday’s semi-final, with some audience members shouting before his appearance and others booing during quieter moments of his song Michelle. He is set to perform third in the final.

Earlier in the week, Amnesty International criticised the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for not suspending Israel from the contest, as it did with Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, calling the decision an act of “cowardice” and a “blatant double standard.”

In last year’s contest, Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael received the highest number of public votes but finished second overall after jury votes were counted. During her performance, two protesters unsuccessfully attempted to storm the stage and throw paint.

By Tamilla Hasanova