‘No War Criminals In Eurovision’: NGOs Urge Malta To Boycott If Israel Is Allowed To Compete
Activist group Moviment Graffitti has published a joint statement, co-signed by several local NGOs, calling on Malta to withdraw from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest should Israel still be allowed to participate.
The open letter, addressed to Minister for Culture Owen Bonnici, comes in response to his comments insisting Malta will remain in the contest regardless of Israel’s inclusion.
The NGOs’ demands are clear: Malta must join countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia in pressuring the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel over what they describe as its “war crimes against the Palestinian people” and the “genocide it is currently committing.”
While commending Malta’s recent formal recognition of the State of Palestine, the signatories argue that this step would remain symbolic without concrete action, such as a Eurovision boycott.
“The time for dialogue with a rogue state such as Israel is over,” the statement reads. “Let Malta be one of the nations that shows Israel and the rest of the international community that we will not tolerate the whitewashing of crimes against humanity.”
The letter was co-signed by groups including Inizjamed, Solidarjeta’, Lebanese Advocates, Watermelon Warriors, Ġustizzja għall-Palestina, the General Workers Union, Għaqda għall-Ġustizzja, Ugwaljanza u Paċi, the Embassy of Palestine, Skop, Kopin, Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA).
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