Former RTÉ broadcaster and Eurovision contestant Mike Murphy will be the keynote speaker at a public meeting calling for a boycott of the Eurovision song contest in Israel this year.
The Knocknacarra Palestine Network is launching the ‘Boycott Eurovision 2019 in Israel’ gig in Richardson’s Meeting Room, Eyre Square this evening at 7:30pm.
Mike Murphy will discuss his personal experience of Palestine and outline why he believes Ireland should boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.
He will be joined by a Palestinian refugee and a number of other witnesses to the daily life of the Palestinian people.
This year’s Eurovision contest will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, and KPN is encouraging people to boycott the competition as part of the broader BDS movement.
A spokesperson for the KPN said that holding the competition in Israel “whitewashes Israel’s ongoing contravention of international laws, and its human rights abuses against the Palestinian people.”
“Over a decade ago Israel launched their ‘Brand Israel’ programme. It has poured millions into promoting musicians and artists to portray a liberal face of Israel, purposely to counteract reports of its occupation of Palestine.”
KPN has also been running weekly stalls acquiring signatures to petition RTÉ not to cover the contest in Israel this year.
The NUJ has said that it will support action taken by any employee involved in the TV production who withdraws their labour through conscientious objection.
