EU lawmakers say Israel Eurovision presence 'conceals genocidal behaviour'

European lawmakers told the public service media alliance behind the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday that Israel's involvement "conceals its genocidal behaviour".

Over 20 politicians sent the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) a letter arguing Israel's presence "whitewashes a regime that is carrying out ethnic cleansing in Palestine and committing war crimes and genocide", Al Jazeera reported.

Members of the European Union's parliament and figures from the Spanish socialist party Podemos put their names to the letter, adding to the opposition to Israel's involvement in the yearly competition.

The organisers of the message to the EBU accepted the alliance wishes Eurovision to stay non-political.

"However, the Eurovision Song Contest did veto Russia's participation in the contest from 2022 in response to its invasion of Ukraine," the signatories said.

"Also, in 2019, Iceland was fined by the festival organisers because the Icelandic contestant displayed a Palestinian flag at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv.

"Israel's participation is in clear conflict with what the EBU claims to stand for, as it misinforms about Israel and conceals its genocidal behaviour."

The 2024 edition of Eurovision will be held in Sweden, with 37 nations represented.

Participation is not limited to European countries, and Australia will also be involved.

Last year, Eurovision took place in Liverpool in the UK, with Israel competing.

Ben Jamal, director of the UK's Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said at the time that the Middle Eastern country should not be taking part.

"Instead of welcoming apartheid Israel with open arms, the European Broadcasting Union should suspend them from the competition, until they end their violations of Palestinian rights and international law," he said.

Israel is currently waging a violent war against the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed over 27,700 people.

The International Court of Justice last month found that Israel is plausibly breaching the Genocide Convention in Gaza.