Former Minister of Culture for the Greens, Claudia Roth, believes that the boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest by five countries, citing Israel’s participation, is misguided. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Roth argued that the contest is “a unique festival of diversity” providing a crucial platform particularly for the queer community and showcasing Europe’s, and indeed the world’s, cultural breadth. Because of this richness, she firmly stated that boycotting the event is incorrect. She added that all the Israeli artists who have performed at the ESC have consistently supported a progressive Israel.
Roth cited two examples: Dana International, who won in 1998 with “Diva” and Netta Barzilai, the winner of the 2018 contest. According to Roth, both artists stand for a diverse and pluralistic Israel, and thus are not supporting the government of Netanyahu or its policies, which they described as violating international law. Furthermore, Roth expressed regret that countries like Ireland, which has a history of groundbreaking performances at the ESC, decided to stay away from the competition. However, she maintained that political messages can still be conveyed through the ESC. She pointed to Österreich’s Conchita Wurst and Ukraine, who, following the start of Russia’s war of aggression, won the competition with their contributions, demonstrating the contest’s power for political statements.