Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) has advised citizens travelling to Eurovision not to display any Jewish symbols in public while at the event due to a slew of pro-Palestine protests apparently planned around the venue.
It also suggested avoiding the display of any Jewish or Israeli symbols, such as flags or stars of David, in public spaces and refrain from posting on social media referencing IDF service or the location where they are staying.
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.
The council claimed that host nation Switzerland has seen 360 demonstrations connected with the Israel-Palestine conflict in the past couple of years, adding that it expects more to take place during the globally-watched event. Protests are likely to target the presence of the Israeli delegation, the NSC added.
In it’s official advice for travellers to Eurovision, the NSC urged visitors to avoid these where possible, suggesting that demonstrations “may escalate into violence” and could be used as cover to attack Israelis.
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.
