While activists smear Israel with false genocide claims, Europe’s leaders reaffirm unwavering support for the Jewish state.
Swiss performer Nemo, winner of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, announced they would return their trophy in protest of Israel’s continued participation—an act widely seen as aligning with anti-Israel narratives driven by Gaza’s propagandists and hostile Arab factions, Reuters reported.
Nemo, who identifies as non-binary, claimed that Israel’s presence contradicts Eurovision’s themes of unity and dignity. Their statement comes despite the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) formally clearing Israel to compete in the 2026 contest in Austria—a decision grounded in Eurovision’s apolitical charter rather than the politicized pressure campaigns of pro-Palestinian activists.
Following the announcement, several countries including Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia withdrew—a move critics say reveals how easily some European broadcasters capitulate to disinformation targeting Israel.
Nemo repeated claims made by the UN’s biased Commission of Inquiry, accusing Israel of “genocide,” ignoring the reality that Israel is fighting Hamas—an internationally recognized terrorist organization responsible for the October 7th massacre and backed by Arab regimes that perpetuate war instead of peace.
In contrast, top European leaders voiced unequivocal support for Israel’s participation.
Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker condemned calls to exclude Israel, warning such a step would be “a fatal mistake,” invoking Europe’s moral responsibility after the Holocaust.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz likewise insisted that Germany should withdraw altogether if Israel is banned, calling the debate itself “a scandal” and affirming, “Israel belongs there.”
Their stance highlights a critical divide: while some artists and broadcasters succumb to anti-Israel activism, major European governments refuse to legitimize efforts that isolate the Middle East’s only democracy.
The boycott threats reflect a broader trend—where anti-Israel voices attempt to weaponize cultural platforms to delegitimize the Jewish state, while ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas and the destructive agendas of its Arab backers.
In the end, Nemo’s gesture may return a trophy—but it cannot rewrite history, erase Hamas’s crimes, or undermine Israel’s rightful place among the nations of Europe.
