Anti-Israel groups have been known to attempt to secure arrest warrants for soldiers on holiday abroad. In January, one former serviceman was forced to flee Brazil after being accused of war crimes, while two current soldiers had to end a trip to Amsterdam the next month due to “safety concerns” after their hotel was tracked down via social media.
Eurovision, which kicks off in Basel next week, has been the target of a number of a campaigns against the decision to allow Israeli entry Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova festival massacre, to participate.
Critics argue that Israel should be barred from the contest due to the actions of the IDF in Gaza, which they claim violate international law.
Indeed, even Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the competition, to reconsider allowing Israel to compete.
However, organisers have stood by Israel, rejecting an open letter signed by more than 70 former contestants calling for both Raphael and Israeli broadcaster Kan to be banned.
