Dame Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, Liev Schreiber and Sharon Osbourne are among a galaxy of stars voicing their support for Israel to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest.
They are just a few of more than a thousand members of the entertainment industry who have signed a letter urging the importance of music as a bridge across cultural divides.
Written to the European Broadcasting Union which runs the contest it welcomes Israel’s continued inclusion despite boycott calls.
The letter coordinated by Creative Community For Peace says a proposed ban would have been an “inversion of justice” after the “greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust” on October 7.
Sharon Osbourne said: “Artists and culture are being dragged into the angry, misinformed politics of the moment.
"Attempts to exclude Israelis from the international stage twist art into a tool of division and erode the shared humanity that the arts are meant to preserve.
“I’ve watched this play out for over three years, and it just breaks my heart.”
The signatories also include The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik, Kiss singer Gene Simmons and former Director of BBC Television, Danny Cohen.
Broadcasters from the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia are refusing to take part in next month’s competition in Vienna, Austria because of Israel’s participation.
Israeli entrant Noam Bettan, 28 will perform the song Michelle in the first semi-final on May 12, with the second due to take place two days later, ahead of the final on the 16th.
The letter says: “We, the undersigned members of the entertainment industry, are writing to express our support for Israel’s continued inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.”
Adding that “To punish Israel would be an inversion of justice,” the letter also says: “We believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music.
“The annual Eurovision Song Contest embodies this unifying spirit. Every year, millions of people across Europe and around the world join in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of music.
“Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.
“We support your decision to reject the calls to expel Israel from the Contest and are looking forward to a successful and exciting Eurovision.”
Israeli acts have faced abuse, booing and heckling at the contest over the past two years, following October 7.
Last year, Nova survivor Yuval Raphael represented Israel, and won the public televote but was placed by 14th by the broadcasters’ jury, finishing second overall.
Israel first took part in Eurovision in 1973 and is a four-time winner.
In 1978 “A-ba-ni-bi” by Izhar Cohen triumphed, followed the next year by Gali Atari’s “Hallelujah”, then Dana International with “Diva” in 1998 and Netta Barzilai’s “Toy” in 2018.
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