The short version
- Two out of three Norwegian Eurovision viewers think Israel should not be allowed to participate, according to a new VG survey.
- 19 percent say they will boycott the broadcast because of Israel’s participation.
- The debate stems from the war in Gaza, where Israel’s army has recently entered the town of Rafah.
- NRK’s entertainment editor expresses understanding for the views.
- Swedish Eurovision expert believes that Israel can get many support votes.
- Carls pub in Oslo says they will turn off the screen during Israel’s performance.
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This is shown by a survey carried out by Respons Analyze on behalf of VG.
42 percent – answer options 3 and 4 combined – state that they believe Israel should not be allowed to participate in the competition.
The survey also shows that 39 per cent are not interested in the Eurovision Song Contest anyway.
This indicates that over two out of three who is interested, think that Israel should not be allowed to participate in the competition.
The backdrop for the investigation is the debate that has raged in recent months, where many believe that Israel’s participation does not belong in the music show as long as the war in Gaza continues.
The last few days of fighting in the city of Rafah have added fuel to the fire of the conflict.
Questions are asked and answers are given as follows in the survey:
Are you going to watch Eurovision this year?
- Yes, Israel’s participation is irrelevant to me: 8%
- Yes, political positions should not influence a music competition like Eurovision: 12%
- Yes, although I think Israel should not have participated: 23%
- No, want to boycott Eurovision as Israel will participate: 19%
- No, not interested in Eurovision: 39%
(The survey was carried out on a national basis, with 830 respondents aged 16 and over.)
NRK editor
– Of course people react strongly to the situation in Gaza, writes NRK’s entertainment editor Charlo Halvorsen in a comment to VG about the survey.
– But if you choose to spend the evening watching Eurovision, the audience must decide for themselves.
Halvorsen says he thinks it is natural that many believe Israel should not participate.
– But it is a decision that NRK is not involved in.
Believe in support votes for Israel
Tuesday’s semi-final gathered a total of 417,000 viewers in Norway. NRK informs Medier24.
That is 195,000 fewer than last year’s first semi-final – but in 2023 the Norwegian contribution was included in it.
Measured against last year’s second semi-final, excluding Norway, the decrease was 27,000, according to Kampanje.
On Thursday evening, Norway’s contribution, Gåte and the song “Ulveham”, will be in the semi-finals – as the penultimate performance of the evening, right after Israel, which is represented by Eden Golan and the song “Hurricane”.
From Malmö, Aftonbladet’s Eurovision expert Tobbe Ek writes that all the protests against Israel’s participation could have the opposite effect, and perhaps give the country the victory.
He points out that you cannot “vote against” in Eurovision – while you, on the other hand, can organize or in any case generate an avalanche of support votes.
“This is an insight that has spread throughout the Eurovision world over the past week. Many do not even want to think about what an Israeli victory would mean for Eurovision,” writes Ek.
Boycott of Israel in Eurovision also affects the nightlife.
In Oslo, the night club Carls at Carl Berners Plass has made it clear that they will let the big screen go black right during Israel’s performance if the song reaches the final on Saturday.
They promise to give the evening’s ticket revenue to Doctors Without Borders and their work in Gaza. Furthermore, they welcome the Palestinian flag, in contrast to what is the case at Malmö Arena.
– Israel’s participation is controversial because of the country’s politics and warfare in Gaza, writes managing director Gifty Arthur in an email to VG.
– We at Carls feel that we cannot be neutral when we show Eurovision here, and have therefore chosen to take a stand.
– To what extent do you think Oslo’s Jewish residents and Israeli citizens will seek out Carls to watch Eurovision? With Israeli flags?
– We would like to emphasize that at Carls no flags are prohibited during our event. Carls is a place that is proud of the diversity we have managed to create since opening, and everyone is welcome.
VG’s survey also shows that the will to boycott is strongest among younger people.
For those who answer “no, want to boycott Eurovision because Israel will take part”, the age and percentage distribution is as follows:
- 16 – 34 years: 24%
- 35 – 54 years: 20%
- 55 years or older: 15%
The gender distribution in the answers is even, but there is a preponderance of women who answer that they will watch even if they think Israel should not participate.
Most men answer that Israel’s participation is of no importance to them.
Tags: #Norwegians boycott Eurovision Israels #participation
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